How to Solo on Guitar Over Modal Interchange Chords

Improvisation over Modal Interchange chords.

This blog is a continuation of last week’s blog on the modal interchange.
Check that blog here if you need a review on modal interchange chords: Modal Interchange Chords in Major Keys.

This week I wanted to talk about the scales of choice for improvisation over modal interchange chords.

In recap, the modal interchange chords in major are:

  1. bIImaj7, bIIImaj7, bVImaj7, bVIImaj7
  2. Im7, IVm7, Vm7
  3. IV7, bVI7, bVII7
  4. IIm7b5, #IVm7b5
  5. IIm7b5 going to V7b9

Let’s have a look at the scales you would use for improvisation over these chords.
(All examples below are given in the key of C)

Over the maj7 chord options:

    • Use Lydian (Db Lydian, Eb Lydian, Ab Lydian, Bb Lydian) or,
    • The minor pentatonic scale a half step down from the chord.

      o Over Dbmaj7, use C minor pentatonic scale.
      o Over Ebmaj7, use D minor pentatonic scale.
      o Over Abmaj7, use G minor pentatonic scale.
      o Over Bbmaj7, use A minor pentatonic scale

Over the minor7 chord options:

    • Use Dorian (C Dorian, F Dorian, G Dorian) or,
    • The minor pentatonic scale up a whole step from the chord.

      o Over Cm7, use D minor pentatonic scale.
      o Over Fm7, use G minor pentatonic scale.
      o Over Gm7, use A minor pentatonic scale.

Over bVI7 and bVII7:

    • Use Lydian b7 (Ab Lydianb7, Bb Lydianb7). (This scale is the 4th mode of Melodic Minor.
    Fairly easy to configure: take a major scale, raise the 4th and lower the 7th in the scale. Hence Bb Lydianb7 = Bb C D E F G Ab Bb)
    • Use the minor pentatonic scale up a major 6th from the root (this is the only available minor pentatonic option).

      o Over Ab7, use F minor pentatonic scale.
      o Over Bb7, use G minor pentatonic scale.

Over II-7b5:

    • Locrian(natural)2 (D E F G Ab Bb C D)

Over IV7:

    • Use Mixolydian (F G A Bb C D Eb F)

Over #IV-7b5:

    • Use Locrian (F# G A B C D E F#)

Over II-7b5 – V7b9:

    • Locrian over II-7b5 (D Eb F G Ab Bb C D)
    • Mixolydianb9b13 over V7b9 (G Ab B C D Eb F G)

Now you know, for all the modal interchange chords, what the scales are, let’s have a look at how to apply this.

How To Practice This.

Make up a 4 bar progression in C with a modal interchange chord.

For example:

||: Cmaj7 | Dm7 | G7 | Abmaj7 :||

Scales of choice:
1) C major scale over the first 3 bars
2) Ab Lydian scale over Abmaj7

Pick a fret, let’s say the 3rd fret, and then figure out the fingerings for C major scale and Ab Lydian scale from that fret.
On the 3rd fret, this will be the G Mixolydian fingering (=C major scale) and the G Phrygian fingering (=Ab Lydian scale).

This is a great exercise to train your ability to change between scales without changing position.

Solo over the chord progression with these 2 fingerings.
After a couple of minutes, move on to the next position and figure out the 2 scale fingerings again for the new location.
This will be C major scale from A (A Aeolian fingering) and Ab Lydian from Ab (Ab Lydian fingering).
Improvise for a couple of minutes, then move on to the next notes: C major scale from B (B Locrian fingering) and Ab Lydian from Bb (Bb Mixo fingering).

Work your way through all 7 scale positions.

Important tips:

  1. Move in stepwise motion back and forth between the 2 scales.
    For example: if your last note in your solo at the end of the G7 bar is for example G, repeat the G note into the Ab bar or move to Ab or F in the next bar.
    this creates a smooth transition from scale to scale.

  2. Try to not stop in between the scale changes. Play a melodic phrase right before the scale change, that continues from 1 scale into the next scale.

Conclusion.

This is going to keep you busy for a while. 🙂
You just learned a lot about improvisation and you discovered many new colors.
Now you only need to practice the info so you get better at applying it all.

Hit me up anytime at vreny@zotzinmusic.com if you have any questions, or if you would like to book a lesson.

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There is only so much that self-study can accomplish.

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