Neo-classical scales in diatonic chord progressions
I am not sure if my Q is correct or not... forgive my ignorance.
Is it possible to use neo classical scales for soloing in diatonic chord progressions and can the neo classical chords be mixed with diatonic chords for composition??
kindly revert back with example. Thanks
Answer
There are a number of ways I could interpret your question, so I hope the following answer helps you...
Firstly, by "neo classical scales" I assume you mean scales such as...
These seem to be the most commonly used scales in neo classical music.
Now, because these scales include non-diatonic tones, certain chords within a natural diatonic key would need to be substituted with chords built around those scales.
Let's first look at a diatonic example in A minor...
Am / Dm / Em / Am / Em / Am
That's a basic i / iv / v / i progression taken straight from the natural minor chord scale (diatonic).
If we were soloing using
harmonic minor, we'd need to accommodate this by making that natural minor v (5) chord (Em) a major V chord (E major or E7) because the 5th degree of harmonic minor corresponds to its 5th mode, Phrygian Dominant, a MAJOR scale.
So our new progression would be...
Am / Dm / E7 / Am / E7 / Am
So by changing that natural minor v (5) chord to a harmonic minor V chord, we have something that will be compatible with harmonic minor and its 5th mode Phrygian and therefore more appropriate for the neo classical sound.
So yes, neo classical scales can be mixed with diatonic chord progressions, but be aware of which chords correspond to the scale/mode you're playing and substitute the diatonic chords with those corresponding chords.
The chords of harmonic minor would be as follows in the key of Am...
Am / Bdim / Caug / Dm / E / F / G#dim
Compare that to natural minor...
Am / Bdim / C / Dm / Em / F / G
So to summarise the most common chord substitutions from diatonic - harmonic minor...
Em becomes E7 (5th degree)
Gmaj becomes G#dim7 (this is because the 7th degree interval in harmonic minor is a half step higher than the same degree in the natural minor/diatonic scale).
Hope this helps. Comment below if you need anything clarifying.