Family Chords & Scales

[over-tuned]

Hi guys.
Do you all know anywhere that I can get a whole full list of Family Chords? Or at least basic ones?
I know this topic was sort of discussed before, but I needed more understanding on certain things.
I went to check out from lots of other forums and online lessons but It just makes me a more confuse guitarist.

May I know the relation between Chords and Scales? If lets say someone tells me that the Jam will be in 'B key'. It means I could use a scale (eg. Minor Pentatonic) in the B key to create a solo?
'Key' = 'Family' ?

http://www.theorylessons.com/pentpos.html

According to this website, the full Minor Pentatonic Scales are broken up into different positions. Does this apply to all scales?
I have seen some lesson videos teaching only 'part of a scale' (12 notes)
Whats the difference? I could shift the 12 notes up or down the frets to get it in the Key I want right? So why are there so many notes on a full scale?

What are the more basic scales to know besides the Major and Minor Pentatonic? How do I exactly go about reading the scales? In Guitar Pro, there's a 'scale' function which shows all of these scales. Do I memories those positions of the notes by breaking them up into parts like what the website suggested?

All these are my doubts. I know all of my shit might be very confusing. You might not know what I am trying to say or ask. Please, I really need help, thanks a lot.
I have a very weak theory knowledge. And hope that everything explained can be as simplified as possible.


THANKS !
:lol:

 

[pr0n]

Relation of chords and scales: basically there is a so-called scale of chords of a certain key. i say scale because the chords follow the key, however they are chords rather than single notes.

for example, in the c-major scale, it goes:

I II III IV V VI VII
C D E F G A B

in the key of c-major:

I II III IV V VI VII
C Dm Em F G Am Bdim(not too sure about this one)

take note that different types of chords are played depending on its position in the key. for I,IV and V the chords are major chords, II,III and VI chords are minors. i think VII is diminshed, im not too sure about that.

"If lets say someone tells me that the Jam will be in 'B key'. It means I could use a scale (eg. Minor Pentatonic) in the B key to create a solo?"

Yes, you can use the scale in that key to play the solo.

"According to this website, the full Minor Pentatonic Scales are broken up into different positions. Does this apply to all scales?"

Generally, the full scales are broken up for easier learning. Once you get them in the back of your head, combine them and walla, a full scale.

"I have seen some lesson videos teaching only 'part of a scale' (12 notes)
Whats the difference? I could shift the 12 notes up or down the frets to get it in the Key I want right? So why are there so many notes on a full scale?"

Very simple. Let's take a look at the pentatonic scale, which is made up of 5 notes. These notes are everywhere on your neck, although they are of different pitches, some higher, some lower. If you limit youself to only one shape, you would in turn have a very limited amount of notes that can be played.

Hopefully i've been able to answer your questions. If there anything wrong guys, feel free to correct.

 

[Chang]

K this is coming from someone who's not v good with theory too. But i hope i can help u in some way and also clarify some doubts of my own too.

Family Chords: frankly speaking i have no idea what they refer to. But if u need diagrams of chords this site is pretty useful http://chordfind.com

Relation between chords and scales: What u mentioned using tt "jam example" is true. If the jam is in B, u can safely use the minor pentatonic in B to noodle out a solo. Same goes for other keys. Just have to make sure u are playing in the same key so tt the solo wun sound off.

Minor Pentatonic: Yes the breaking up of the scale into different positions do apply to all scales. This is to ease memorization of the scale. This also allows easier playing on different areas of the fretboard.

As for the "part of a scale" thing u mentioned, i believe it's just one of the positions for playing the particular. U can definitely shift the notes up and down to get it in the key u want, but then u will only be constrained by this particular position. Technically speaking there are only that many notes in a scale, they are just being repeated all over the fretboard in different octaves. So u can use them to get a low bass note or a high pitched one.

More basic scales: Major and Minor scales would be good scales to know by heart. The Blues scale is something which is closely similar to the pentatonic with just a added "blues" note. There are many ways to memorize the positions like breaking them up vertically (like in the website) or linearly. Whichever way suits u man.

Tt's all abt it. Hope what i've offered is relevant.

 

[teleholic]

yes the VII chord is Bdim.

there are five shapes in the minor pentatonic scale because they are modes of the scale beginning on the root. eg. A minor pentatonic - made up of A C D E G. shape 1 would begin on root A, Shape 2 on C note, and so on, so you get five different shapes. Same like major scale (Ionian), starting on different notes, you get the other modes ( Dorian Phrygian Lydian Mixolydian Aeolian Locrian) You can do this with other scales, such as harmonic and real 'jazz' melodic minor.

 

[over-tuned]

A big thank you to 2 of you.
I'll need some time to digest what you guys said.
Hmm, looks like I did not totally get the wrong idea about scales and chords.

Hmm, I'm still not sure about Family Chords and stuff hope more of you guys would help.

Are these family chords? If not what are they ...
' C G Am Em F C F G '
'Am Em F G '
' G Em C D '

These chords seem to be somehow related. Hmmm ...


Thanks again.

 

[pr0n]

'C G Am Em F C F G '
'Am Em F G '

These can be said to be related because they all lie in the key of c major, where the chords would be:

C Dm Em F G Am Bdim

For ' G Em C D ', its in the G major key, in which the chords would be:

G Am Bm C D Em F#dim

Just remember that the key follows the scale, however the types of chords varies in the position.

 

[fretness]

Hey that was a big help thanks!

 

[bf0502tr]

erm...all those years and no1 spotted the mistake: the last chord of a major scale isnt a full diminished...
its a half diminished, aka the m7b5. a diminished chord has a b3 b5 bb7, the last chord has only b3 b5 b7 therefore not a diminished chord.

 

[Likui]

erm...all those years and no1 spotted the mistake: the last chord of a major scale isnt a full diminished...
its a half diminished, aka the m7b5. a diminished chord has a b3 b5 bb7, the last chord has only b3 b5 b7 therefore not a diminished chord.

I thought that is if you are doing secondary 7th chords?
if lets say you are doing triad then is a dim only what no 7, no half dim 7 also because only 3 notes

 

[bf0502tr]

hmmm can also...but i'd rather not fool myself to thinking its a full diminished at the start. if one continues to learn, one will surely reach the 7th chords. then it will be difficult to ingrain that into the head again