Originally Posted by: jasim.hdThe way I understood improvisation with scales: is that you choose the same scale as the root chord being played. For example, if I played the following chords Em, G, D, the root chord is Em and then I should use the Em scale to improvise. Is this accurate? Correct me if I'm wrong, please.[/quote]

Yes, you've got the basic idea. But there's a little more to it that will help. So, when you say this:

[quote=jasim.hd]

Now, when someone plays the mentioned above group of chords, or when I use an Em backing track, I try to improvise using the Em open scale, but it doesn't feel right; actually the sound is rather wrong and just off!

Improvising, or playing a lead solo, is essentially playing a single note melody while a chord progression is happening. There are 3 thing you have to know & do in order to improvise.

1. Play in key.

2. Target chord tones.

3. Build melodies.

I cover this topic in detail in these tutorials.

Intro to Improvisation for Beginners

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=876

Intro to Improvisation in a Major Key

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=483

Intro to Improvisation in a Minor Key

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=491

I hope to have those updated later this year. I also have these YouTube vids in which I cover some fun aspects of learning to improvise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yWHuMaUMDQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqCvk3gFS0c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJuh1nj-VM0

Having said all that, here's a brief summary! :)

Step 1, figure out what key you are in. Identify the notes of all chords being used & see what scale they form, or belong it. That's what "key the song is in". That's the meaning of the term "key signature": the scale that contains all or most of the notes in a melody or chord progression.

So, let's look at this chord progression & write out all the notes in all the chords and see if you can build a scale.

E minor: e-g-b

G major: g, b, d

D major: d-f#-a

Now put them in alphabetical order starting with E: e, f#, g, a, b, d.[br][br]Notice that is most of an E minor scale (the note C is missing). So, you can say that you can use the E minor scale to make melodies over these chords. However, notice that it's also a D major scale and a G major scale!

D major: d-e-f#-g-a-b (only the note C# is missing).

G major: g-a-b-d-e-f# (only the note C is missing).

So, it could be any of those. Just depends on what sound you want to stress. Do you want to start & end on the E minor chord? Then it's best to use E minor scale, or the key of E minor.

So, now you know what notes to use. But what do you do with them? That's where step 2 comes in. :)

Step 2 is to target chord tones.

You should be aware of what chord is happening at any given time during the progression and target the chord tones of the chord that is happening at the time in the music.[br][br]So, obviously you play notes from the E minor scale while the E minor chord is happening. But what might not be so obvious is that you want to rhythmically emphasize the notes e-g-b because those are the notes of the E minor chord.

Here's where it gets interesting! When the G major chord is happening, you still play notes from the E minor scale but emphasize the notes g-b-d (the notes of the G major chord). When the D major chord is happening, you still play notes from the E minor scale, but emphasize the notes d-f#-a (the notes of the D major chord).

Step 3 is to build melodies. Build musical phrases & statements with the key & the chord tones.

Also, keep in mind that playing the scale in a low register might conflict with the chords no matter what you do because it's in the same sonic space. That's why so many lead solos & meodies are played in higher registers, higher on the fretboard. It gives each part chance to occupy it's own sonic space: chords down low, melodies up high.

The above links will give you lots of actual examples, instruction & exercises on these concepts. Ask more if necessary! Have fun with it!