This instantly tells you which scale to use!

TRANSFORM your guitar playing! Join the Guitar Playback Academy for STRUCTURED LESSONS and REAL TEACHER FEEDBACK!

Don't know the scale to use? Just look at the chords, they'll tell you!
#shorts

Recommended playlists

►How to Play Melodic
►How to Use Guitar Modes
►How to Play Blues

David’s gear
Vola Guitars:
Use code DAVID to save 5% on your next Vola Guitar!

[TMWilson]

Thats a f’n sick way to think about it, been playing guitar for 30 yrs and never thought of it like that . Dope….

[TheBaconWizard]

This particular set of chords when the notes are added together, give you the Dorian Mode.
Useful to know is that you can play minor pentatonic on each of those roots also.

From here, like ANY mode, if you move it around the fretboard (but keep the same tonic note going: usually a bassist does this for you) then you get another mode. Because that’s all modes are, right? Just the same notes in a different order, which gives different intervals with respect to a tonic, which as a feature of modes, must be actively re-enforced unlike Major or Minor scales.

Here’s how it works: from the Dorian position as described in this video; move up in 5ths to get a brighter mode, and move down in 5ths to get darker modes.

Example: this was on the tonic D.
Keep a drone or baseline or anything on D, and now you move everything you are doing down a 5th to G.
Congratulations. You are now in Aeolian.

Down another 5th to C would give you Phrygian (great for metal!)

So, learn the so-called major-modes by darkness-brightness, know the circle of 5ths, be able to play in Dorian using 3 triads or 3 minor pentatonics. With these things alone, you can play in any mode of choice over any tonic, to summon any emotion that you desire.

God-like skills from Minor Pentatonic and a bit of knowledge that you are gonna need to learn anyway.

[xanlosgames]

wow I never thought about it that way 🤔 thanks for the info!

[jaymac]

Just found this guy last week. He's worth subscribing to

[craigpaulson]

This is how I started teaching myself how to solo over a rhythm. Nice to see someone thinking outside the box. This guy is an amazing teacher.

[zeppelinfan]

Two minor chords a step apart means it's the ii and iii chord; therefore the answer is the Cmajor scale. 🎸☮️💕

[killzxch]

Dude this was the best lesson I’ve learned in only 20 sec

[john-dimz]

Life changing for any guitarist...IMHO

[rodmcdonough]

You have come up with a ridiculously simple and completely logical way to do this. Awesome, thank you!

[RickH]

I think this may be immeasurably helpful 👍🏻

[johnnyfrisco]

Just melodic will do nicely... Good idea

[cryptotharg]

Dave, FTW! You present some great stuff. Don't stop.

[zgjfinance]

DEA - I play hide the drugs when that one comes around..

[funkytexan]

I’m a bassist, but I really appreciate these Shorts. They’ve been super informative!

[mattpinder]

Dangerous if your borrowing chords from other keys. This only works because they are from the same key. Cool tip for beginners

[jpmillman]

My god.. never looked at it this way. Thank you!

[jimmymarchisotto]

You are AWESOME!!!! I'M so remembering

[Fb-pgsh]

Well the 4 5 and 1 chord in a key do contain all the notes in the scale.. So this is a pretty cool way to visualize it.. 👍🏼👍🏼

[HurtzPee]

Sometimes we need to step back, get simple about things and fill in the blanks! Great advice sir!

[newmedia]

This is the missing piece I’ve been looking for thanks!