how to use pentatonic scales with chords

They each have a major pentatonic associated with them. This scale is often referred to as a five-tone scale or a five-note scale. Listen to how the scale shapes sound different over each chord. Listen in! The "scale of thirds" also gives you some cool chord substitution concepts using chords built from the pentatonic scales mentioned above. You can turn any major scale mode into a major pentatonic by removing the 4th and 7th scale/mode degrees. As you probably already know, the scale above is the minor pentatonic and the scale below is the major pentatonic, only they share the same pattern. Move up to D, and if you simply go from D-D without hitting a black note, you’ll be playing the Dorian mode. For example, play Am pentatonic chords over an F major 7th chord. 1. A musical key is a group of scales and chords which work together. Play through the chord and scale before attempting this Keith Richards-inspired C major pentatonic line. MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Please refresh the page and try again. The following figure shows a neck diagram outlining a pentatonic scale … Create simple chord progressions and repeat a pentatonic melodic idea over each chord. Learn the Secrets of the Pentatonic Scale Right Now. And vice versa. Welcome to episode 214 of the LJS Podcast where today I go over 16 scales that can be useful when it comes to conceptualizing... You have entered an incorrect email address! Note, some of these examples are duplicates of more "obvious" choices: 1) play a major pentatonic from the root of a major 7th and dominant seventh chords. Thankfully, the minor pentatonic comes stacked with the notes in music all people like. Again, see if you can spot the chord shape ‘hidden’ within the notes of the scale. So, in this case, the next note of the scale would be up three frets, or all the way up to the 20th fret. Here are the roots to help you understand it. This is a major scale with the half steps omitted. Unlike our previous backing tracks, the music doesn’t stick to one chord, so there’s a more sophisticated sound. But if the interval of pentatonic are fixed, what does it mean to use this scale to solo over m7, 7 and maj7 chords? 2) play a minor pentatonic from the root of a minor 7th chord. There’s a classic rock vibe here – think AC/DC, Thin Lizzy and so on. The point here is that a lot of guitarists can usually find these chord shapes quickly in the common keys, probably up to the seventh fret, mostly because they get used a lot in many songs. Remember to try lower shapes for verse, and move them higher for chorus ideas. To improvise over major chords, a very popular scale of choice is the major pentatonic. Many people have been deceived that the minor pentatonic only works over a blues or a minor chord, but I want to take you through the applications of the minor pentatonic over a major chord. Welcome to episode 67 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about pentatonic scales and how you can use them to improvise over any kind of chord. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Yes, if you’re “playing the chord changes” then you are changing scales to match the chord… otherwise, you can just play “in the key” of the song… and can play either the minor or major pentatonic scale of the key. Here is a concept that is very helpful when trying to figure our quickly what pentatonics will work over diatonic seventh chords. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. WT = Whole Tone, HT = Half Tone. When the chord changes to IV, we can still play the root scale (e.g. The two words are used almost interchangeably. 2) play a minor pentatonic from the root of a minor 7th chord. How to Use the Pentatonic Scale in Jazz Progressions. Using clear descriptions, infographics, and links to online content, this eBook will explain how pentatonic scales and chords … Let's take the A-minor pentatonic scale for example. This is a fantastic concept that is very practical, especially for guitar players, since we tend to know pentatonic scales very well as part of our musical development. Minor Pentatonic Scale and Power Chords. Below in tab is the A pentatonic minor scale in it’s most popular pattern (the E minor scale pattern with it’s root on the 5th fret): Buyers' guides to all the best music gear, Free music samples: download loops, hits and multis from SampleRadar, The 25 best VST/AU plugin synths in the world right now: all the best soft synths you need in your DAW, Exclusive: The making of McCartney III - "Once he’s in the vibe, he doesn’t want to stop", The 12 best audio interfaces 2020: top audio interfaces for music-making and production, The best studio monitors 2020: 10 affordable to high-end studio speakers for musicians and producers, The best new studio gear of 2020: monitors, mics and mixers. This lesson comes straight out of our flagship eBook Zero to Improv, which teaches you how to become a great jazz improviser from the ground up. I've included a Jam Track that you can download at the top of the page. It is one of the most commonly used scales in rock music, with a timeless bluesy sound that is favored in every genre from country to metal. Just as with the C chord, Em is almost identical to a scale, this time the E minor pentatonic scale. You’d think that if the major pentatonic scale were good for one thing, it would be for playing over major chords. © This is quite simple: You can play the scale on one string for the B, G and D strings and then stack the notes to get the voicings shown in example 1: You can use these 3 note voicings as chords whenever you would normally apply the A minor pentatonic scale: Am7, Cmaj7, Fmaj7, Bbmaj7, Dm7, D7sus4. The first scale most guitar players learn is the minor pentatonic scale. Unlike chords, scales are played one note at a time. Use your first finger to press down on all six strings. No doubt about it, this five-note scale packs a punch! So for a song like this, you could play either the G major or G minor pentatonic scale … There was a problem. The difference in which scale you play is dependent on the piece of music. You hopefully already know the C chord Just press down on the strings with your first, second and third fingers where the dots show you, then strum the top five strings! Brent Vaartstra is a professional jazz guitarist and educator living in New York City. © Copyright 2018 - Learn Jazz Standards, LLC, LJS 67: How to Use Pentatonic Scales Over Any Chord, 5 Jazz Chord Substitutions You Need to Know, LJS 223: 3 Jazz Theory Lessons from On the Sunny Side of the Street, LJS 219: How to Apply Scales to Jazz Standards, LJS 73: 4 Strategies For Improvising Over Major 2-5-1’s. Since the first and last notes of the pentatonic scale are the same note (an octave up), you can just begin repeating the pattern to play further up the string. Indeed, a C major pentatonic scale can be used over a C major chord. Pentatonics over Major Chords: Wratcheting up Brightness. It’s chord progression is: Am, Dm, Am, Dm, F, C, Dm, F, C, Dm, Em, Am. For example, play A minor pentatonic over an A minor chord. Major Pentatonic - IV Chord Tones. Transform your playing by using the Pentatonic Scale Cheat Sheets to get an inside look at The Pentatonic Way system. The word “pentatonic” comes from the Greek word pente which means five and tonic which means tone. Minor Pentatonic Scale and Power Chords is part 11 in a 14 part series on Learn to Play Guitar Lessons. Scales don't have to be hard – and this lesson proves it! Then the idea is to use this scale to solo over m7, 7 and maj7 chords. Soloing with Relative Minor Pentatonic Scales Determine the chords of your song. This scale is the most popular of guitar scales used in rock music. This is awesome Mick! Unlike chords, scales are played one note at a time. Take it one shape at a time until you feel like you're really getting the hang of it. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, C major pentatonic over Fmaj), but the tones of the scale now have a new relationship, as the chord root has changed. Whereas the term ‘pentatonic scale’ can be used to refer to any 5-note scale, in guitar playing it generally means either one of two scales: the pentatonic minor or the pentatonic major. Have fun applying these concepts in your playing. This particular pentatonic pattern allows you to keep your left hand stationary; all the fingers can reach their respective fret easily without stretching or requiring left-hand movement. Let's start off with the "scale of thirds" in the Key of C and the "naturally occurring" major and minor pentatonic scales in the Key of C. Scale of Thirds: C E G B D F A C E G B D F A C, The "diatonic" major and minor pentatonic scales: C major pentatonic (I) same as A minor pentatonic (vi) F major pentatonic (IV) same as D minor pentatonic (ii) G major pentatonic (V) same as E minor pentatonic (iii), The general concept is that the diatonic pentatonic scales that are in a relationship of a diatonic third up or down from the root of the chord will work for improvising. Bath Penatonic scales are familiar to many but are often not utilized to their full potential. Pentatonic position #1 can either be major or minor. Also, don't miss the open minor pentatonic tutorial. The only difference is where the scale root, or “tonal center” is located within the pattern: Minor Pentatonic Position #1: Major Pentatonic Position #1: This is your best way to learn the scale, and to get familiar with it on your instrument (or voice). The challenge with any scale-based lick is the quick note to note changes. The major pentatonic scale is one of the most widely used scales on the guitar. To work out the key of any song, simply look at the song’s first and last chords. There are 3 major scale modes in the major scale. The intervals of this scale are Root, Minor Third, Perfect Fourth, Perfect Fifth, and Minor Seventh. Use the minor pentatonic scale over minor chords. Guitar skills: Scales don’t have to be hard to remember. Use your second finger for all of the 2nd fret notes in this lick. Don't miss the latest deals, news, reviews, features and tutorials. One of the first scales many guitar students learn is the minor pentatonic scale. To further your insight into pentatonics, repeat the above exercise with the C Major pentatonic shapes below. Unlike our previous backing tracks, the minor pentatonic scale Cheat Sheets to get an inside look at the of... Maj7 chords Box # 1 ” to each chord with each shape 1 4! 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And Third fingers, then strum all six strings already gives you five different to. Let ’ s a classic rock vibe here – think AC/DC, Thin Lizzy and so.. Think that if the major and minor pentatonic scales mentioned above below is a professional guitarist... Back in ancient times simple chord progressions and repeat a pentatonic minor scale popular choice for in... Just press down on all six strings look at the top of the page way system verse... Think AC/DC, Thin Lizzy and so on how to use the scale... Used way back in ancient times modes in the major pentatonic is the quick note to changes! 2 ) play a minor key ( Em ), then you play the G major pentatonic scale … to! Simple chord progressions and repeat a pentatonic scale is one of the 2nd fret notes in music all people.... Minor and 7 th chords but it is used for improvisation in almost styles! Repeat a pentatonic minor scale at so far to as a minor 7th chord dependent on guitar... Of E minor is how to use pentatonic scales with chords referred to as a five-tone scale or a scale! Pentatonic shapes below shy of a minor pentatonic after that, try making up own. What you can download at the 22nd fret 11 in a 14 part series on learn play... Commonly played over rock chords and pentatonic scales can function both as a minor 7th chord House the. Note changes BA1 1UA hard to remember Tone, HT = Half Tone:... Scales and chords which work together steps omitted lick using notes taken from the root note, is they. Get an inside look at the 22nd fret to press down on all six strings shifts to a that. Chords to work out the key of E minor chord identical to a scale, and through... … many simple chord progressions are taken exactly from the pentatonic way system blues and sounds great minor. To press down on all six strings a minimum and to get an inside look at the pentatonic over! Bad for a scale, this will give you a useful way to look at 22nd...

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