Major 2 5 1 6 Solo - Using Major/Minor Blues Scale

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Backing-track for this solo is available for download - file name:
Backing Track Acoustic 2 5 1 6.mp3

Hi guys!

Here's a few lines for a 2-5-1-6 progression in A major!
Some of the lines may be familiar to you since I have used them in other études here on the Patreon Page.

If you are unfamiliar with the 2 5 1 progression, check out my Jazz Fundamentals Lessons.

The tabs are available for download on this page. You can download the tabs as pdf, png, gp and gpx files. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to find the tabs.

Slowed down versions of this étude are available in the video above.

As usual, you can find the right hand notation in the guitar pro files, png or pdf file.

p = thumb
i = index
m = middle
a = ring
c = pinky/little finger

The Chord Progression

The progression is in the key of A major

Down below you can see the chords of the progression and a roman numeral analysis.

The chords for the 2 - 5 - 1 - 6 progression in A major are: Bm7 - E7 - Amaj7 - F#m7.

Amaj7 = The 1st chord of the A major scale
F#m7 = The 6th chord of the A major scale
Bm7 = The 2nd chord of the A major scale
E7 = The 5th chord of the A major scale

Before we talk about each chord, let's take a look at the chords of the A major scale.

Bar 1: In bar one we have an A major 7th chord. This is the first chord of the A major scale and therefore it is the one chord.

Bar 2: Here we have F#m7. Where does this chord come from? This is simply the 6th chord of the A major scale.

Bar 3: The chord in bar three is Bm7. It is the second chord of the A major scale.

Bar 4: Here we have the five chord of A which is E7. There's a lot of different scale options for this chord, but a "safe scale" to use is of course the A major scale.
If you play the A major scale over E you are actually playing the 5th mode of the major scale, which is E mixolydian.

Scale Options

Regarding scale options I recommend you check out this lesson:

How to improvise over chord progressions

Here's a few different scales I recommend you start with if you want to improvise over the backing-track:

A major scale (can be played over the whole progression)
A major pentatonic scale (can be played over the whole progression)
A major blues scale (can be played over the whole progression)

A minor pentatonic scale (use this scale sparingly over Bm7 and E7 in order to add tension - resolution happens on the one chord).
A minor blues scale (use this scale sparingly over Bm7 and E7 in order to add tension - resolution happens on the one chord).

In theory you could argue that the A minor pentatonic and A minor blues scale is "wrong". But as a scale to add tension it works great. Trust your ear and remember that you have to resolve everything properly.

Scale charts for these scales can be downloaded and displayed at the bottom of this page

Concepts/Techniques/Scales

I recommend you read the following text down below and watch some of the lessons - which I have linked to - in order to understand the analysis.

Chord Tones

Here's a few lessons regarding chord tones.

Blues Lesson - SPICE UP Of The PENTATONIC scale with CHORD TONES

How To Mix Chord Tones & Scales

"Simple" Trick How To Outline The Chord Progression

Chromatic scale

I have a lesson about chromaticism. Click the link down below

Chromaticism (Introduction)

The chromatic scale or twelve-tone scale is a musical scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone, also known as a half-step, above or below its adjacent pitches. As a result, in 12-tone equal temperament (the most common tuning in Western music), the chromatic scale covers all 12 of the available pitches. Thus, there is only one chromatic scale.