[Winterland]

I need some direction here.

If I am playing in the key of Dmaj. Can I play a Bmaj scal over the progression since it is the relative minor? What scales can I play over the progression. Does F Maj work? A mixo?

[lostsailor8782]

remember relative MINOR .....just because you are in a key doesn't mean that a certain scale ALWAYS works ... you have to consider the other tones in the song or progression .... I keep giving this advice and I believe in it wholeheartedly and people keep showing up for my shows so I must be doing something alittle right .... try all of the above and just LISTEN !!!! Your ear won't lie to you ... you obviously started playing cause you loved LISTENING to music ... now LISTEN to your own music and trust your ear !!!! A player developes their own style in this way, because it all comes from within so just loosen up a bit and keep on rockin

[sarraqum]

It also depends on what sort of sound you want. I tend to stick to major key scales, so if the key is D then you could use D, G or A mixolydian, I, IV and V. Each one has its own feel to it.

Not sure if that makes sense....

[BlobWeird]

If I am playing in the key of Dmaj. A mixo?

A mixo contains the same notes as Dmaj. So yes you could. B MINOR not MAJOR can be used as well because again it is the same scale. Same with E Dorian and so on. Its all about just knowing what mode matches what. Once you know that it really opens up the entire fretboard to you. Just by locating a certain note you know to fill in around it. Tough to explain but if you stick with it you'll get it. Within the past year or so I finally learned all the notes on the fretboard. It seems wayyyy harder than it really is. But yeah Id try doing that. Just little by little try to memorizes areas of the board. Youll notice patterns within it that repeat all over the place. Ok now ive rambled way too much. As lostsailor said it depends on the progression of course but if the key is D major you can use Dmaj or what id prefer is D mixolydian. or of course you can just stick to D pentatonics