Improvising in major

The progression

G, D, Em, C: the I-V-vi-IV progression in G, which you’ve known since the Beginner course.

The notes of each chord

Chord	Degree	Notes	Target
G	I	G, B, D	B (the third), G
D	V	D, F#, A	F#, A
Em	vi	E, G, B	G, E
C	IV	C, E, G	E, C

Watch out for two traps: F# over D and C over C aren’t in the G major pentatonic. They’re the two notes of the major scale that the pentatonic leaves out. Over their own chord, they sound perfect; anywhere else, they clash.

Method: the pentatonic, plus two notes

1. The base: the G major pentatonic, near the nut or at the 2^nd fret.
2. The landing spots: on every chord change, end your phrase on a chord tone, ideally its third.
3. The colors: add F# when the progression moves to D, and C when it moves to C.

Exercise: one note per chord

As with the blues, start with just one note per chord: B over G, F# over D, G over Em, E over C. Play it on the change and let it ring. You’ll hear a very simple melody that follows the progression. Then connect those notes with two or three notes from the pentatonic.

Common mistakes

• Playing “minor” in major. Your A minor pentatonic habits make you end on E (the relative minor): it sounds sad. Target G and B.
• Too many notes. In major, a simple melody beats a scale demonstration. Sing your phrases.
• Forgetting the chords. Listen to the backing: if your note clashes for a long time, slide one fret to the nearest chord tone.

You’ve got it when…

• You can name the notes of G, D, Em and C, and the note to target on each
• You can play a one-note-per-chord melody that follows the progression
• You improvise for two minutes in major, ending your phrases on the chord tones