ON THE CD

o Ttr.!CXS 42-45;

Ugmented sdoing*
Our creative master Shaun Baxter continies his mini series
dedicated to playing over this unique chord, by looking
more closely at the augmented scale itself ..

It would be a good idea to Iefer back to issues

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*ffi:" r3B and 139 ofcT for more information and
musical ideas using the six and nine-note
augmelted scales.
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This month's solo study compdses ten lines
SE'h#, f rhe ausnented isa six-nole scale that can be played over the lastbarofa 12 bar
q;'ir "fl}fu#
ro i{;' ri:fl ,[]:ffiiif i.Jil??".
blues (see Diagrarn 6). Each line is actuallytwo
bars long, because it is designed to resolve to t]le

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A7 chod at tle start ofthe following choms (See
Diagram 7). The notes over the A7 chord will be

- il:s"E**rffiT,ffi*i"",: derived lrom any ofthe following:

sedes in which an interrd ofthree
semi-tones is followed by an interval
ofone semi-tone: see Diagram z).
Altemativell., Diagram 3 slrows
how this scale can be viewed as an
augmented triad with a chromatic
'approach' note a semi-tone below
,,/ each note; however, it cal also be
viewed as compising two
augmerted triads (in this case, E+
and Drr +), because, when using this
scale, it's possible to use the D#+
triad independently ofthe E+.
There is also a nine-uote version
ofthe scale. This can can be seen as
following a repeated tone, semitone,
semitone'pattem (Dia$am 4); but it
can also be seen as cornprising three
augmented triads: in this case, E+,
D#+ and D+ (see diagram S).
When using the nine-note augmented scale,
ATtAC#EG
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A mixolydlan: A I C* D E F* G
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A minor blues scaler A C D Eb E G
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Onthe G'f CD, you will hear me demonstrate
all ten lines in succession (as a continuous solo
study) over a backing track that simply repeats
tle E augmented and A7 chords; however. there
is also a backing hack devoted to tle full p-bar
blues sequerce. This will allow you to isolate and (
focus on just one line at a time, and to pmctise
iDsefting it illto the appropriate place within the
blues sequence. To keep your mind clear at this
stage, I suggest that youjust irse A minor
pentatonic or A minor blues scale for all the 8r
other chords in the progression, saving your
augmented surprise for the 6na1 bar..
Finally, remember that, becau-se ofthe
augmented scale's s,,rnmetrical nature, all lines

OO"O Advanced
El Augmented sca le
TEMPO: 120 bpm ,iAugmented 5oloing
CD:TRACKS42-45 g 0verall tonal range
TECHNICALLY, AN AUGMENIED triad
comprise. consecutive majorthirds. splittinS
each octave into thrce equal parts:
conscquently, it is the musical equivalent ofan
equilaleral b'iangle (see Diagram r). Knowing
how to play over tlis chord is impotaDt
because it represe[ts one ofthe four primary
tonal colour:s in Westem music (along with
majoq minor and diminished).
last montl we looked at ways ofusing a
TMC( [EC0[0 .Allan lloldsuorth u one of the only guitarists that I tnox uho usss tho augtmnted scat6 ultt any &gm€ of rugutartty.
ll0wovoli i[ general, saxophono players tend t0 be moro advanced rvlth thoir sing€ note soloing, because thatrs all they
listonlng t0 albums by Holdswolth, check out the incredlblo,rohll G0ltrane and ilichaelBrrckor to hoar augmonted idoas
72 GuitarTechniques October 2009
the results tend to be darker and more
'geometric'-sounding than when using the
can be shifted up or down in interrralsofa m.rjor
third (four fiets) ard will still work over the E
six-note version. augmeDted chord (t}le notes tiat rcsolve over
lnowledge
But beware: because tlerc are oDly three of theAT chord will have to be changed), II
the twelve notes in music not being used within
tle nine-note augmented scale, things could
easily descend into a formless clromatic mess. GETTHETONE
Instead, you will get more convincing rcsult-s if
you i[terpret it ir a more harmonic or'vertica]'
way, wherebyvarious arpeggio sounds are
exhacted fiom within the scale.
The s,'rnmetrical quality ofboth gpes of $e'l
augmented scale means that they are ripe for ail
kinds ofthematic development, because any
Foryour infothis month! solowas recorded
using my FenderRelic Stratthrough a Laney
plfl
musical idea can be shi{led up or down iu
intervals of a major third (or four frets) and lr.ill
1mW valve head with the settings above, but of ts tl
still wolk over the same augme ted chord.
course anytone would doforthese exercises.
it nr
the
do, So as rvoll as
toni
h action. Wesl