Lead Track In the Key of ..... ????

[Agave_Blue]

I saw/read something a little while back that implied that what you play as a "lead track" should be in a key "complementary" (my word) to the rhythm/backing track.

IOW - the lead track is not necessarily in the same key as the backing track.

Two questions:

1.) Did I understand this correctly?


2.) If so, how do you know what key for a lead track will be "complementary"; is there a rule or formula?

For example, if the backing track is in the key of A (major scale), how would you determine the best key (or keys) for a lead track and is it in the same scale?

[huw]

"Complementary" huh?

Well the notes of the key/mode that the backing track (aka THE SONG) is in are your "inside" notes, and the other 5 available chromatic notes are your "outside" notes.

Add the outside notes to the inside ones until you find your own satisfactory mix. Too many outside notes can sound "wrong", too few can sound "bland".

But as a rule of thumb I'd suggest you begin to choose notes in this order:

1 Notes from the song's melody
2 Notes from the song's chords
3 Notes from the key/mode that the song is in
4 Notes outside the key/mode

And for some help figuring out which key/mode you're dealing with:

For reference - chords for all of the modes of the major scale