Scales used in Welcome to the Jungle

[Tobin1634]

Guys - I have tried searching for this but can't seem to find a straight answer
Can any of your gurus out there tell me what is going on theory-wise in Welcome to the Jungle? Is the song in Am? What scales are the solos using?

I am trying to learn theory and one of the ways where it starts to make sense to me is applied in actual songs.

In addition - can anyone refer me to a book or online lessons that take this kind of approach? Theory just all seems greek to me when its talked about without this kind of application.

 

[sk8rat]

it is in e flat major as it is tuned down half a step. he uses the e flat major pentatonic scale for the solos.

I tried to go about learning theory in the same way and I gotta tell you, it was confusing as can be. I recommend learning from a clean slate. it will take time but short cuts wont help you.

 

[Tobin1634]

Thanks, yeah I am starting to see your point that its confusing since its not always straightforward and if you don't have the knowledge its very difficult. Ok I'll read some books!

 

[huw]

it is in e flat major as it is tuned down half a step. he uses the e flat major pentatonic scale for the solos...

Haven't listened to that one in a while, but from memory I'd say minor was a better fit.

G&R frequently use the common rock habit of mixing chord/notes from both major and minor together into a hybrid sound that's "in E" (or Eb if we factor in the tuning), but not entirely major or minor. However, having said that, WTTJ is (and again, this is from memory) pretty much minor in character for the most part (excluding the brief transition to the relative major: G) (ok - Gb, because we're tuned down )

 

[sk8rat]

Haven't listened to that one in a while, but from memory I'd say minor was a better fit.

sh*t you are right! I always mess that up. meant to say minor.

 

[GBLEV]

One thing I learned about Slash's playing, he actually uses the Major/minor scale across the neck and picks out pentatonic phrases. This is where he gets a lot of his passing tones from on his runs. He's also uses a lot of chromatic notes and isn't afraid to just throw in any note he thinks sounds good at any particular place. I have heard him say in a video on YouTube once that a lot of times he will have an idea like to start out in Mixolydian, or Dorian and end up somewhere else. So he is very aware of the modes, and uses them well, but I think he mainly uses scales as a guide, and plays mostly by ear.

 

[Tobin1634]

would love to see that you tube vid if you can find it!

 

[GBLEV]

It was an older one, maybe around the time they were starting VR, and he was doing different videos for Guitar World. I think it was a Guitar World video. Just go to YouTube and do a video search on something like "Slash gives guitar lesson." I'm sure it's still there. I've seen so many through the years I don't remember which one it was.

 

[Tobin1634]

Ok thanks dude

 

[LPMarshall Hack]

Yea I've heard/read that slash doesn't know any theory other than what notes sound good, so who knows if his solos apply to any one theory "correctly".

 

[Tobin1634]

see that's unreal to me if its true, divine intervention or soul sold to the devil?

 

[sk8rat]

slash did take lessons for a while when he was a kid but he quit taking them after a while. even then, taking lessons for a short time is beneficial.

you have to take what guitar players say with a grain of salt. they all lie. when they want people to think of them as bad*ss rockstars, they don't necessarily want the image of themselves struggling to learn like a normal person would.

 

[GBLEV]

you have to take what guitar players say with a grain of salt. they all lie. when they want people to think of them as bad*ss rockstars, they don't necessarily want the image of themselves struggling to learn like a normal person would.

I think you hit the nail on the head here.