MUSICAL TEMPLATE EXAMPLE 2:
Let’s further explore soloing avenues with a progression consisting of three power 5
th
chords.
This is track one from the Rock Jam Tracks Audio CD.
EXAMPLE PROGRESSION 2: E5 – F5 – G
Fifth or power chords contain just two notes, a root and the 5th and they are often utilized in
rock and metal rhythms. There is no 3rd in the chords so nothing will clash against the flat 3
rd
in minor pentatonic. That is why minor pentatonic sounds awesome in rock and metal jams.
Because there are few notes in the chords this jam is wide open to various soloing avenues.
We are in the key of E and the chords in this jam are a I–b2–b3 or E-F-G and it is not real
major sounding or a ballad jam, so E minor pentatonic works over all the chords.
There is a b2 chord in this progression. As soon as you see a flat 2 (b2) chord in a jam, you
want to examine the Phrygian mode as a possibility.
KEY POINT: Whenever you see a b2 chord in a progression, especially if in minor key,
you want to examine Phrygian mode as a possibility for soloing.What relates to all the chords:
- E Minor Pentatonic & Blues – minor pentatonic sounds awesome over rock and metal jams.
- E Phrygian - Phrygian is the 3
rd
mode of the major scale. E Phrygian is the same as C major.
Play C major scales but start on and emphasize the E notes to make it E Phrygian. If we
examine all the chords we have an E5 (E and B notes), an F5 (F and C notes), and a G5 (G
and D notes). E Phrygian is E,F,G,A,B,C,D. It’s the same as C major, no sharps or flats. Notice
how that will work over the chords in this jam: no rubs at all. Try it over all the chords as E
Phrygian relates to all and you will discover it sounds killer (E Phrygian=C Major).
If this is unclear please refer to the lessons on the modes starting on page 67.
- E Aeolian can be played over all the chords but you have to be careful because in the scale
there is an F# note and that will rub if you hit that note over the F5 chord. E Phrygian is a
better choice over all the chords. The F5 chord is going by fast, so it will be minimal - that is
why I list E Aeolian as a possibility. E Aeolian is the same as G major. Play G major scales
starting and emphasizing the E notes and you have E Aeolian (G major = E Aeolian).
- Mix E Phrygian and E Minor Pentatonic & Blues over all the chords for some killer sounds.
Treat each chord like a separate event: In this jam the chords are moving by very fast so
there is not much time to solo independently over each chord. You are probably going to solo
more with what relates to all. The F5 chord is especially fast so very little time is spent on that
chord. There is a little more time on the E5 and G5 chords, so try a few different things
independently over those chords.
- E Aeolian - (=G major), or E Dorian (=D major), over the E5 chord or some E arpeggios over
the E5 chord. The minor arpeggios work best here, they sound dark and cool. Try Em, Em7, or
Em9 arpeggios over the E5 chord.
- There is enough time to blast a G major arpeggio or G major lick over the G5 chord.