Hey Uriah or anyone else who can help....

[Snug]

Hey Uriah I'm loving your posts, and I know how to do most of what you're doing, but what I would like to know is how does theory apply to those riffs and runs you are playing. What I'm trying to say is I know how to play the riffs and runs, but I don't know the theory behind playing them, and I'm trying to learn that so I'd be able to play anything that I think up. If I knew the theory behind it I could just think up a bassline in my head and pick up my bass and play it. So if you could please help a brother out.

[browntree]

Ditto for me too.  I would love to know exactly what Snug said.

[uriahsmusic]

Ok…you want some theory….I’ll give you some theory. But not blind theory that wreaks of numbers and nothing creative.  There are generally three ways to go!  Major , minor and dominant!
Major is c  d  e  f  g  a  b  c
Minor is c  d  eb  f  g  a  Bb  c
Dominant is c  d  e  f  g  a  Bb  c
So what most people would say…and so do I!

The  difference between these patterns that you love so much to play is whether or not they go with certain types of chords.
Now the odd thing is that the rules aren’t written in stone….that’s why I don’t talk too much theory….
 
For example is Bass w/backup #2  the run starts on Ab and the 2nd note is the major 3rd
Which is C!!!  but the chord I am playing in the backup music is a minor chord so what gives?  Well it all depends on how long you hold any given note!!
 
If  I play an Ab minor chord and hold a C note for any length of time it won’t sound good.  But if held for a short time sounds great and jazzy!

So play bass w/ backup 1 and 2  against any major chord…the key will be determined by the note you start the run on!

Now do it against a minor chord….seeee!

More to come…

[JayP5150]

Working backwards from that, if you want a riff or lead to have a certain flavor, watch your 3rds!  If you're soloing over minors, the worst thing you can do is hit a sustaining major third (okay, not the worst thing--but I promise you that's the only note anyone will remember because it will be screaming at them).

However, like in Uriah's examples, a nice minor 3rd--major3rd trill will fit about anything--

Oh man, he's right:  theory hardly matters.  I mean, it's nice to understand it, but just play, listen, and recall the next time what hit your ears right and what hit your gut wrong.

That's the true judge of music.  Besides, I doubt Vai goes to your church, anyway, so folks ain't critiquing, they're just listening.

Keep your quest for knowledge, but don't lose your feel in the process (I'm only saying that because I know dudes that can shred, but can't play anything with soul).

Good times.

[JayP5150]

Never mind, I thought this was in the guitar room.

Pay attention, Jay...  :roll: