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These next 8 or 9 lines are extremely important. Get them. I don’t care if it takes weeks, get them. It may be the most important thing in this course.-

If you are wanting to play a lead on top of a certain chord, then first find out what the name of the chord is. Then find what fret you would play the E (or Em) formation on, to get that chord. -(that is, what fret is the barre finger on?)—
Then take the major scale form that I’ve given you, and if your chord is major, then use this scale form so

that its lowest notes (red ones) are 3 frets below the fret that you’ve determined the barre finger is on for your chord.
If the chord is minor, play the scale form so that its lowest notes are right ON the fret that you’ve determined.

Transposing

If you know one chord and you want to find how to play another chord by using that same formation, write down the chromatic scale starting on the name of the first chord, and count the number of half steps up to the name of the second chord, and then play your known chord that many frets higher on your guitar. Then you’ll have the chord you want.

-- it’s the same with scales……..

If you know one scale and you want to find how to play another scale by using that same formation, write down the chromatic scale starting on the name of the first scale, and count the number of half steps up to the name of the second scale, and then play your known scale that many frets higher on your guitar. Then you’ll have the scale you want.

As an example, let’s say that you know how to play G by barring the E formation on the 3^rd fret. How can you play the B chord?--Write down the chromatic scale starting on the name of the first chord:

G,   G#,   A,  A#,  B,   C,  C#,  D,   D#,   E,  F,   F#

-- count the number of half steps up to the name of the second scale …. G to B is 4 half steps.
Now play the barred E formation 4 frets up from the 3^rd fret, and you’ll have the chord B.

A Good Question in New Words

What notes fit against what chords?
The notes of a major scale, fit against the chords of that major key. So the C Major scale notes fit either C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am or Bmb5.

Likewise, the G Major scale notes fit either G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em or F#mb5.

Notice that since Em and Am are in both the key of C and in the key of G, then either scale will fit the chords Em and Am. Which scale will fit them better? It depends on what other chords are part of the song.

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