As promised here is a basic way to approach the middel-eastern type sound, fairly easy if you get the hang of it.
I'll try and keep it basic and keep out the technical stuff for now, so i'll stay in Aminor.
Asuming you have some knowledge of the notes on a fretboard:
It works like a normal scale, just 1 note that differs.
guide:
T = Tone, move 2 frets up.
ST = Semi Tone, move 1 fret up
b = symbol for a flat note(taking the note back 1 fret), for example: in the major scale if you flat the 3rd note of the scale it be a minor scale(including 6 and 7 flattend as well)
normal A MAJOR scale:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
A B C# D E F# G# A
T T ST T T T ST
normal A MINOR scale:
1 2 3b 4 5 6b 7b 8
A B C D E F G A
T ST T T ST T T
A HARMONIC MINOR scale, notice the combination of the minor and major scale(notice the 7th note of the scale looses the b (flat note) giving it a minor with a very weird leading note(the 7th note of a scale), this gives the middel-eastern sound):
1 2 3b 4 5 6b 7 8
A B C D E F G# A
T ST T T ST T+ST ST
e|----------------------------------------------------------
b|---------------------------------------------------------
g|-----------------------------------------------------------
d|-----------------------------6---7-------------------------
a|-----------------5---7---8----------------------------------
e|----5---7----8--------------------------------------------------
A B C D E F G# A
So if you play all those notes on the fretboard you have your harmonic minor scale:
So what backing chords can i use with the A harmonic minor?
Am...........................(A C E).......these are the 3 notes that make up the chord
B diminished................(B D F)
C augmented...............(C E G#)
D minor........................(D F A)
E major........................(E G# B)
F major.......................(F A C)
G# diminshed...............(G# B D)
.....so you can play the basic ones, i know augmented and diminshed sounds like scary chords, it is!!!
Am , Dm , E , F and later on you can attemp the weird chords.
here is a few examples of ascendending scales, to get the idea of how the notes flow:
http://www.activeguitar.com/lessons/guitar/262-1.asp
Here is something i randomly typed to get the idea:
e|----12-----10--8----7--5--4---------------------------------------
b|---------------------------------------------------------
g|-----------------------------------------------------------
d|---------------------------------------------------------
a|----0----------------------------------------------------
e|---------------------0----------------------------------------
Am E
You can also get the eastern sound by using just the major and minor scale, but this is kind of a easy way out.
If your are going for something more east towards china or even further like korea ?, use the pentatonic scale then.
Anyway, remember to have fun, and this is really going to be a challenge for everyone, including me, a big learning experience.
The reason i went for a middel-eastern ringtone, is purely because it would be cool to have a new ringtone for my cellphone ?
So who ever wins my vote will be my new ringtone ?
So everyone knows what a ringtone should sound like, can be anything from fransisco tarrega to yngwie malmsteen, etc......
make it catchy.
