• Forum Index
• New Message
• Search FretBuzz
• List of Forums
|
|
|
FretBuzz: Instructional Forum Message |
I've been frantic trying to figure out what scales Santana is using to get his special "sound", and the song "Smooth" in particular.
The song goes in Am, F, E mainly, and the pentatonic minor isn't right, neither is the gypsy scale or "spanish eight". Could someone tell me which scale he uses?
Thanx
//Alex
|
|
Responses (continued)
[ Pages:
1 · 2 · 3 ] |
Re: That "Santana" sound
2/19/2004 8:27:21 PM
Steve Cass
(14749) wrote:
Scales are only a way to provide the theory about a collection of notes within an octave (or more) that become the pool of available notes from which to choose. Since the home chord is minor, he's just playing a melody in Am. Think about singing a melody and that's what he's doing on the guitar.
Steve |
|
| |
Re: That "Santana" sound
2/20/2004 2:12:33 PM
Alexander Alasjö
(406) wrote:
That makes a lot of sense, Steve. Thanx!
//Alex |
|
| | |
Re: That "Santana" sound
2/20/2004 3:18:22 PM
Steve Cass
(14749) wrote:
You're welcome!
I'm not saying that understanding a bit about certain scales is unimportant, but that's not the key to understanding music, imo. Your ears' natural ability to understand what sounds good needs to be in the lead. That's just my opinion, but that's because I taught myself how to play, and it was by ear. So naturally, I lean this way.
Often times you'll find that guitarist don't choose scales to play with, they choose a key and then determine the basic points about a key which make them minor and major (you know, make the third flattened, or make the sixth flattened, or the seventh. Sometimes they may change their minds. But this is all up to the ear, not a set of rules! Theory is basically there to help you understand what it is that you heard (did I say that already previously? Oh, well, there it is again.).
Sometimes you'll want to sharpen the third during a passage when a chord changes, but the basic scale will still be minor. Just trust your ear.
Have fun!
Steve |
|
| |
Re: That "Santana" sound
2/21/2004 7:48:53 PM
William Bustard
(1574) wrote:
I think that ones in C major, and uses an augmented fifth(G#)sometimes. Samba Pa Ti also uses the major scale only in G with an augmented fifth sometimes. Some Theory books decribe the the idea as "an augmented fifth scale".You see it alot. Bill |
|
|
Previous Responses
[ Pages:
1 · 2 · 3 ] |
|
