Day 9 - Lead line with the major scale

We look at a simple lead line using the C major scale, which goes nicely over these chords we learnt in Day 8.

The aim of this session is to continue learning how chords and scales work together, but this time with lead lines; The C major scale gives us the root notes of all the common chords in the key of C major, but notes in a higher register of the C major. Again, the higher the notes the more it can be heard as a lead line over chords or riffs - in this case just the top 3 notes we can play in open position on string 1. 

Day 9 visual jam track - C major lead line

Day 9 key points - Lead in C using the C major scale

• Lead lines tend to use notes in the higher register, either on the thinner strings or higher up the neck, making them stand out over the chords

• The C major scale has a very happy sound compared to pentatonic scales - the major scale has 7 notes and the pentatonic only has 5 which misses out the important 'happy' sounding notes

• For lead lines we use alternate picking, if you start with a down pick then the up pick follows like D U D U D U...