Another scale question...

Bare with me hear, I'm new to music theory...

Do you have to play a different scale or mode over every different chord in the progression? Or do you just stay in whatever scale matches the key of the song?

You will want to play what ever scale matches the key. But let your ears guide you.

Thanks, that makes life easier for now. But why are there so many modes and arpeggios and things to learn. I guess I must learn some patience first. I tend to bite off more than I can chew.

Thanx again.

well first you don't have to do anything, and when playing diatonically(don't know if you know this but I'm basically saying when all the scale types share the same notes making them modes) the only difference, sometimes, is how your thinking. but you can do both. In a simple 12 bar blues you can play the Mixolydian over each chord That shares the same root(C7 for C Mixolydian, B7 for B Mixolydian), Play each given mode over the chord diatonically(C7 for C Ionian,F7 for F lydian, and G7 for G Mixolydian), or you can just play C Ionian over the whole thing. those are only a small, small, bit of what you can do(it seems to be endless).


It helps instead of thinking in terms of modes/scales to think in chord tones(really it when modes are when you get down to it). So instead of dealing with what mode can i play just play the notes of the chord your playing, so say your playing of C major 7 just play the 1,3,5,7, and then just use extended tones like 9, 13, 4, 6, and what have you. It can help with the confusion.

but that being said more then likely, you are as you said "biting off more then you can chew" and you should take a step back and start really understanding what you all ready know then more on to the next step. then for instances do you know your triads and if you do your extended harmony, if you don't know your triads in side and out don't even think your going to get modes.