Lesson #1 The Hindu Scale.
I have no idea what level you are at so the lessons I post will be in no particular order. I just hope to add some tools to your belt so that you have some options.
Video example at the bottom of this post using the Hindu Scale in the solo for "Song Worth Singing" that will be a track on my Talk to the Machine album.
You'll here this scale in so many genres of music. I hear it often in John William's scores which is probably why I enjoy using it.
For this exercise I am using the key of D. Those with some theory knowledge will be able to move this into any key. If you don't know theory I've created a beginner lesson near the bottom.
One of the most widely used chord progressions is D going to G. At some point you may want a change. I am suggesting that you try a G minor chord instead of G and I want to show you a great scale, Hindu, you can use with a D to Gm chord progression. I will use the guitar scale/solo as the example but you can use this for vocal lines, horn harmonies, string orchestrations etc...
The Theory
When you use a D chord going to a G chord (D being your key/tonic) the chords are in the same key (the I and the IV chord) built using the notes of the D major scale D E F# G A B C# D.
Triads: a chord with three notes
If you use a Root, 3rd, 5th starting on D you get D F# A, the notes of the D chord. If you use a R, 3rd, 5th starting on G you get G B D, the notes of a G chord. On the guitar many of these notes are doubled or tripled in a chord but they still only contain 3 note names.
Sub G for Gm
If you substitute G with G minor, certain notes will have to change.
The G minor chord contains the three notes, G Bb D. The G minor scale (the relative minor of Bb major) contains the notes G A Bb C D Eb F G
Alter the D major scale
Now if you alter your D major scale to contain a Bb and a C (from the G minor scale) your scale will look something like this D E F# G A Bb C D. This is the Hindu scale in D.
In relation to the major scale use this formula to move it into any key you want, R 2 3 4 5 b6 b7 8 or TTSTSTT (Tone, Tone, Semi-tone, Tone, Semi-tone, Tone, Tone)
Now try this scale under a D to Gm chord progression. I personally love this scale / chord combo. I may have over used it on my album but I guess that will just be considered the "style" I used.
FOR THE BEGINNER
Play this scale:
---------------------------------------------8--10-
------------------------------7--8--10--11-------
---------------------5--7--9-----------------------
--------4--5--7--8--------------------------------
--5--7---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
Over these chords:
D / / / Gm / / / D / / / Gm / / / repeat
/ = additional chord strum
What will you do with your Hindu?
Comment & post a link so we can all hear what ya did.
This post originates from
