Guitar Lesson: Playing Over Changes

posted by Lewis Turner

Playing over changes is the term used to describe improvising over various chords that aren’t all contained within the same key. This is often associated with jazz, as many jazz tunes constantly change key. This is considered by many to be the most challenging thing to do in improvising regardless of the instrument you play. However, I believe that with the correct instruction and methodical approach, it’s well within anyone’s capability.

…The aim of this lesson is to understand how to change key in one area of the neck…

Lewis Turner

To be able to play over changes convincingly you will need to know your fretboard inside out. This means making sure you have all your scales and arpeggios down.

In this first lesson we will be playing over two minor 7 chords a minor 3rd apart: Am7 and Cm7, with each chord lasting one bar. As these two chords are minor and a minor 3rd apart, there is no one scale that can be used to fit other both. The aim of this lesson is to understand how to change key in one area of the neck.

I have used two scales for all the examples; the minor pentatonic, and Dorian. The minor pentatonic scale is the classic scale of choice over a minor chord, here it is used in a more modern fusion way rather than blues. Dorian is the second mode of the major scale and is often used over a minor 7 chord, as the major 6th note in this scale gives a very jazzy feel.

If you look at the end of the transcription you will find the scale shapes that I have used. Over the Am7 chord we have both minor pentatonic and Dorian in shape one. Over the Cmin7 chord both scale shapes are shape five. This means one only covers a very small amount of fretboard area.

As you start to play over more chords this is an essential skill to have, as it prevents you from having to jump all over the fretboard, and your lines will keep their continuity. Here is a good scale practice exercise you can try; play the following progression in one area of the fretboard, say 5 – 8th fret: A,C,D,F and G. Now play the corresponding major scale for each chord staying within that area (used the CAGED system if you know it). Now repeat the process changing all the chords to minor, you could also play arpeggios, Maj7, min7, dom7 etc. Do this in all five areas of the fretboard. If you do this every day your fretboard knowledge will increase dramatically.

Lick’s 1 – 4 use the minor pentatonic scale. Notice the use of large intervals such as 4ths and 6ths. This gives greater harmonic depth to your lines, and is a great way to spice up the old scales.
Lick’s 5 – 8 use the Dorian scale. Lick 5 comes straight after the pentatonic lick 4, and this is technically quite challenging. Again there is use of wide intervals and slides, also notice how the second bar of the phrase answers the first.

I have used very basic rhythm on these lines just so you can get used to playing the scale shapes. Over the backing track try the lines I have written, but more importantly improvise and try your own ideas. Enjoy it and good luck!

Resources for the Playing Over Changes tutorial – © Lewis Turner
	Guitar Jar Lesson – Guitar licks over Minor 7 changes (110KB pdf)
	Guitar Jar Lesson – Playing Over Changes – Complete Track (1.9MB MP3)
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	Guitar Jar Lesson – Playing Over Changes – Backing Track (1.9MB MP3)
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All content © Lewis Turner – For more information about Lewis Turner, please visit:

Matthew Stahlmann

May 17, 2011
8:42:53 pm

Nice lesson. I love to change keys on the fly like that. It’s also cool how you direct people to interesting notes and wide jumps.

lewis turner

June 01, 2011
11:14:19 am

Thanks for the comment Matt, your website is very cool.

draeger

October 19, 2015
1:34:45 am

nice job!

I have two suggestions:
– it would be helpful to indicate which Dorian and which minor pentatonic scales you are using against the Cm7 & Am7 chords. It is helpful to refer to patterns when speaking of scales but it helps build music theory muscles to know the root names of each one.

– since you are using C and A minor 7th chords I would use flats to indicate chord tones used in the scales in your pdf instead of their enharmonic brethren, E.g. Eb instead of D# & Bb instead of A#. This conforms to the actual function of the notes contained in the chord i.e. a minor 3rd & minor 7th instead of a sharp 6th.