Swing Scales?

[LeviB.]

Alright guys,

As you can probably tell, I am pretty new to this site. I thought being a Western Swing/Jazz player, I should probably connect with others and learn and discuss topics.

I do have one big question that I want answered, and have wanted answered since I have started playing, so maybe one of you could help me break from these chains I have on the neck of my guitar.

QUESTION:

Note: The way I learn is by learning scales, learning them back and forth, then making up and improvising all the way. I am completely self taught, no lessons for me.

SO - What scales do I use? I want a western swing sound. I've looked all over (literally) for the past almost 6 months, and cannot find just a plain scale layout of a western swing type scale.

Do you have any you could share?

[mr. beaumont]

Asking what scales the old western swing cats played is a little bit like asking what kind of car Jesus drove.

These cats were thinking and playing chord tones--arpeggios, for the most part. As far as scales, the good old major was probably the most common, but when you hear the old swing guys go off, they're not using a bunch of scales w don't know about--they're playing the changes. If that's a new concept, let me know, and I'll go in further.

[Jazzaluk]

I agree with Mr B ... If you are thinking scales, you can get the Western Swing vibe if you introduce a chromatic passing tone b3 and b6, but the phrasing is important of course.

start experimenting with a Cmaj69 arp: C,E,G,A,C,D,E. Play it up and down with a 8th note swing feel. then add Eb and Ab and play it up and down, but on the way down make sure you play the Eb before the E and the Ab before the A.

You should start to hear the effect of these two additional notes on the phrasing. this is the most basic swing sound from the maj scale. You will need to experiment with the phrasing and note choice, but it should help you get the feel and sound in your ear.

sorry I can't write the staff for this, I am using my iPad (traveling).

[monk]

No scales. Major and minor arpeggios as a foundation. Adding color tones such as 6, b7 and 9. Approach the 3 with a b3.

If you can't hear that swing soloists are using ornamented arpeggios instead of scales, I would suggest some serious ear training.

Also transcribe some simple swing solos by the guitarists you like but THE go-to guy is Charlie Christian. A great secondary source would be Django Reinhardt, who preceded CC on recordings by four years. Members of the Benny Goodman band said that Christian could reproduced Django's solos note for note and then spin off variations of his own for chorus after chorus.

Regards,
monk

[LeviB.]

I know how to play changes, but I was kind of just wondering what scales they used, and based things off of. Thanks for all the quick answers guys, this really helped. I can tell I am really going to find this site useful on many occasions. Thanks Guys.

P.S. My favorite players are Hank Garland, and also Charlie Christian. I want some CC pickups!

[monk]

LeviB,
They don't base their solos from scales. They base them from chord shapes.

Regards,
monk