ep067 – Why G

[lews]

I’m trying to figure out what the theory is behind Brian using the G note in this rhythm piece. The key is E, so the G is the flatted 3rd. He also uses A chord, the IV, of E, but G is the flatted 7th of A. I would have thought you would use the major scale to construct these things generally, I IV V or I ii IV V, etc., but try to instead substitute G#, the 3rd, and that sounds awful.

Anybody explaining this would be most appreciated.

Lewis

Topic

[GnLguy]

@lews wrote:

I’m trying to figure out what the theory is behind Brian using the G note in this rhythm piece. The key is E, so the G is the flatted 3rd. He also uses A chord, the IV, of E, but G is the flatted 7th of A. I would have thought you would use the major scale to construct these things generally, I IV V or I ii IV V, etc., but try to instead substitute G#, the 3rd, and that sounds awful.

Anybody explaining this would be most appreciated.

Lewis

Hey Lewis

You have to keep in mind that we are talking about blues and the minor pentatonic scale. The G note is in the E minor pentatonic scale

I haven’t worked on this particular lesson but making a quick guess after looking at the tab, Brian is using the G & A chords as passing tones/chords as he is moving to the E chord which allows an otherwise static progression have a little motion. He could have used only a G & A note but in order to have a more full sound, he opted to play chords.

Just a guess…..

[lews]

Thanks Keith for the help. I didn’t realize that the notes of the scale could be used as chords, but it makes sense. By the way, the lesson is EP067. It’s still a little confusing though. I understand using a chord versus a note, but here he’s establishing a rhythm phrase and then soloing against it. Perhaps this would help – how would you finish this if you wanted to play it as a song?

If you get a chance listen to the lesson. If you wanted to complete this as a song, would the idea be to shift this to an A (the IV) and B (V) in a 12 bar or similar progression? That is, so this G A E part is really just the I chord – a part of a song

[GnLguy]

@lews wrote:

Thanks Keith for the help. I didn’t realize that the notes of the scale could be used as chords, but it makes sense. By the way, the lesson is EP067. It’s still a little confusing though. I understand using a chord versus a note, but here he’s establishing a rhythm phrase and then soloing against it. Perhaps this would help – how would you finish this if you wanted to play it as a song?

If you get a chance listen to the lesson. If you wanted to complete this as a song, would the idea be to shift this to an A (the IV) and B (V) in a 12 bar or similar progression? That is, so this G A E part is really just the I chord – a part of a song

The pattern that you are referring to could easily be used to complete a song. I was listening to some older Robin Trower today and one of the songs did exactly what you were describing. I’ll try to find that song and post it.

Think of La Grange by ZZ Top. Initially, the riff starts by playing an A chord with a walk up using a C note and a D note. It switches after the first verse to using the C chord and D chord being used. If you were to write the scale degrees of the notes & chords of La Grange and Lesson 067, they would be the same.

[Author]

Replies