LESSONS INTRODUCTION
Senior music editor Jason Sidwell introduces this month’s brim-full lessons section.
You say TOMAYTO. I say TOMARTO. A big part of being a progressive guitarist - that is, developing rather than prog rock based - is cultivating flexibility as regards terminology. Scale and chord names are just two areas that one needs to be savvy about. Take this issue’s lesson from the legendary Mike Stern b2 b6 where he covers the Mixolydian scale. For some, this name is already familiar and is easily related back to the parent scale of the Harmonic Minor. Mike talks about how Mick Goodrick used that name so it sits well with him too. However, for many rock guitarists brought up on, say, UFO and Yngwie Malmsteen, the name Phrygian Dominant might be more familiar. Both musical camps
understand that it’s the fifth mode of the Harmonic Minor. So, two popular names for the same scale.
Another example: for some the Altered Scale is a well-known term. Every interval is flattened by a semitone from what the Major scale contains (ie: R- b2-b3-b4-b5-b6-b7). But as it’s the seventh mode of the Melodic Minor scale, others prefer the name Superlocrian. Why? Because there’s an acceptable association with the Major Scale’s 7th mode name (Locrian) which is then contrasted by putting ‘Super’ in front of it. So, Superlocrian. Again, two names for the same scale (BTW, both are referenced in The Crossroads feature this issue, p40 onwards).
If we focus on chord names, it’s common to see either extended names or slash terminology being used. For example, A11 is often appreciated (and played) as G/A. Sure, the former chord suggests the inclusion of both C# and D (the 3rd and 4th/11th of A Major) while the latter only D but in the real world, many (if not most) guitarists will play the exact same voicing when either is required (frets, low to high strings; 5-X-5-4-3-3). And what about C9#5 versus C9aug? Are you clued up enough to deal with both?
Ultimately, what’s important is not rigidity but rather flexibility, so you can understand and accommodate several names. It’s useful for deepening your own musicianship and it’s helpful when discussing muso terms with others.
Until the next issue, keep happy, keep listening and keep playing!