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Soloing Over Major Chords - Ionian Mode

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Exploring triads, arpeggios, pentatonic and major scales, How to build and practice these different melodic ideas, and apply them to soloing over major chords. Exploring different sounds that come from the Ionian Mode, other wise known as the major scale. 

Major Triads

The first soloing idea over Major Chords, using an Ionian sound, is the related triad for that chord.

Triads are a great way to solo over major chords as they get right to the 3 notes that make up that chord, and so any note in the C triad for example, will always sound good over a C chord.

Here are a few fingerings to check out for a C triad, one from the 5th and one from the 6th-string root. Learn them in C first, and then take them to all 12 keys as you explore them further around the fretboard.

Triad Soloing Exercise

 

Once you have learned one or both of the above major triad fingerings, put on the backing track at the bottom of this article and practice soloing over those chords using only their related triad shapes.

Start by sticking to the 6th-string root shapes for each triad, then move on to the 5th-string root, and finally move between both shapes as you navigate the chord changes on the backing track.

Major Arpeggios

The next idea that we’ll explore when soloing over major chords is the maj7 arpeggio. Built from the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th notes of the Ionian Mode, maj7 arpeggios are only one note different from the major triad, but they have a unique sound all their own.

Here are two shapes for the Cmaj7 arpeggio that you can explore in your practice routine. Again, learn these shapes in the given key, then take them to all 12 keys as you work them further in the woodshed.

Arpeggios Soloing Exercise


Once you have learned one or both of the above maj7 arpeggio fingerings, put on the backing track at the bottom of this article and practice soloing over those chords using only their related maj7 arpeggio shapes.

Start by sticking to the 6th-string root shapes for each maj7 arpeggio, then move on to the 5th-string root, and finally move between both shapes as you navigate the chord changes on the backing track.

Major Pentatonic Scale

Caught between the arpeggio and major scale, the Major Pentatonic Scale has 5 notes, the 1-2-3-5-6 of the underlying major chord, and so it is a great choice when soloing over major chords in your playing.

Here are two fingerings to get you started with this fun and easy to play shape on the guitar. Once you work it in C major, take it to the other 11 keys as you continue to explore this sound around the neck of the guitar.

Pentatonic Soloing Exercise



Once you have learned one or both of the above Major Pentatonic Scale fingerings, put on the backing track at the bottom of this article and practice soloing over those chords using only their related Major Pentatonic Scale shapes.

Start by sticking to the 6th-string root shapes for each Major Pentatonic Scale, then move on to the 5th-string root, and finally move between both shapes as you navigate the chord changes on the backing track.

Major Scale

The last melodic idea we will explore in this lesson is the Ionian Mode. Better known as the Major Scale, this 7-note melodic device is a great way to solo over any given major chord as it contains the notes of that chord, the maj7 arpeggio and 3 color tones, 9-11-13, in it’s construction.

Here are two different fingerings for the C major scale to start you off with. After you have these shapes down, make sure to take them to all 12 keys around the fingerboard.

Scale Soloing Exercise



Once you have learned one or both of the above Ionian Scale fingerings, put on the backing track at the bottom of this article and practice soloing over those chords using only their related Ionian Scale shapes.

Start by sticking to the 6th-string root shapes for each Ionian Scale, then move on to the 5th-string root, and finally move between both shapes as you navigate the chord changes on the backing track.

Major Triad Backing Track

The following backing track was built for you to use with the above improvisational exercises. Here is the chord progression on that backing track so you can work through a number of different keys when soloing over this track. Have fun!

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