Originally Posted by: shan5Intresting, can u please explain that "improvise using one scale that fits all chords in progression" & also "you might find you're only playing a couple of notes from each scale before moving on"...i would really appreciate that.

It's 2 different approaches to improvising.

The first (one scale fits all) is that if your chord progression is B,C,A,D you could improvise over the whole progression in a G pentatonic scale as the chords B,C,A & D are all rooted on scale notes for G. (Hope that made sense) This is where the diatonic theory comes in.

The second option (to shift scale with the chord progression, playing a couple of notes per chord change) is easier to understand but harder to do. If you took the same example - B,C,A,D, then you'd play in B while B was being played rhythm, then shift to C with the change, then A and so on. The reference to playing a couple of scale notes per chord change was aimed at the fact that the progression might not linger long on one chord before changing, so you might find yourself shifting position after a couple of notes.

Hope that helps... if not, ask away.... :D