Re: Bluegrass - A question for those who improvise
And, just a thought, it helps to play the notes of the scale related to the key the song/tune is in, unless there are some clearly stated "accidentals" outside of that scale. If you throw a bunch of C#'s into a song that's in the key of G, you should have a reason to do so (like a "2" chord leading to the "5" chord, e.g.).
This seems totally obvious, but I've just started teaching a beginner mandolin class at a local music school, and to beginners, scales and chords, and their interrelations, are a whole new and mysterious language. Those of us who've played this stuff so long we no longer have to think about consciously choosing scales and chords -- at least most of the time -- are sometimes reminded that not everyone has that history on which to draw.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
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