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Diminished Scale Dominant Chord Licks
Diminished Scale Dominant Chord Licks To Create Tension In Your Guitar Solos
I love using the diminished scale, especially over dominant 7th chords. A dominant 7th chord has so many possible sounds that can be played over it and the opportunities for experimentation and really getting into some outside and crazy ideas are ripe for the taking.
On one hand, the diminished scale is easy to use as only a limited amount of scale fingerings can be learnt, and these fingerings can be repeated all over the guitar fretboard. This results in an almost limitless number of possible melodic ideas.
On the other hand, using the diminished scale and creating useable sounds from it can be very difficult. It took me a long time before I felt comfortable using the diminished scale. I knew many theoretical ideas that I could apply to the scale, but they didn't sit well with my ears most of the time.
It takes time to get acclimatised to the sound of the diminished scale but once you begin to use it, a whole world of possible ideas will open up before you.
Why Does A Diminished Scale Work Over A Dominant 7th Chord?
The diminished scale is a symmetrical scale that is constructed entirely from alternating whole-steps and half-steps. When using the diminished scale over a dominant 7th chord, you need to begin with a half-step from the root of the chord.
This diminished half-whole scale results in the following intervals against the dominant 7th chord:
- Root
- â™9
- #9
- 3
- #11
- 5
- 13
- â™7
As the scale contains the root, 3rd, 5th and â™7th of the dominant 7th chord, it outlines the sound of a dominant 7th chord and offers some nice colouration in the form of â™9th, #9th, #11th and 13th.
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Diminished Scale Sequence Over v7
Diminished scale sequences are a great way to create long, flowing melodic lines. I love learning diminished scale sequences as they can be easily repeated all over the guitar fretboard and I can then use the ideas to create melodic sequences in other types of scales.
As with any diminished scale idea, parts or all of this lick can be repeated every three frets along the guitar fretboard to extend the line and give a different emphasis against the chord.
This lick is played over a G7 chord and resolves to Cmaj7, although it also sounds great when not resolving to a maj7 chord. Try the lick over a funky G7 vamp.
Semitone Below, Scale Tone Above
This is another idea that can be applied to other improvisational material. The 'semitone below, scale tone above' idea works extremely well when improvising with arpeggios.
This lick works itself diagonally up the guitar fretboard. Try starting this lick on lower strings as the fingering on string pairs is the same as the fingering used on the D and G strings or the B and high E strings.
Combining a diagonal approach with repeating an idea every three frets will result in cool licks that cover a lot of ground.
Diminished Scale With Chromatics
This sequence is much more intricate than the previous patterns. Chromatic notes have been added and various fingerings for the same idea are used throughout the lick.
This type of lick will require a good right-hand picking technique. This lick will give you a great alternate picking exercise, although you could economy pick parts of the pattern which will result in slightly different phrasing.
However you decide to pick this diminished scale lick, your left-hand/right-hand coordination will be put to the test.
Would You Like To Train Your Ears For Free?
The diminished scale is awesome for ear training as it contains all possible musical intervals. If you can recognise the interval sounds in diminished scale licks and melodies, you will certainly know your intervals.
To train your ears so you can instantly recognise the sounds of all musical intervals, click on the link below and gain access to my free ear training mini-course.
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