Download Pentatonic Scales

Pentatonic Scales
5 basic forms for these.
By: F. Markovich
What is a Pentatonic Scale?
• Penta means five. A pentatonic scale is a 5 note
scale as it’s simplest definition.
• Unlike 7 tone scales which are called diatonic
scales (step – wise). Major scales are diatonic
scales. Also the modes are diatonic scales.
• The black keys on a piano are a pentatonic
scale. It is hard to play a bad note using the
black keys only on a piano.
• Pentatonic scales used properly will produce a
consonant line but if over used can be boring.
You must go beyond just the scale. Remember
to use chord tones also.
Uses
• Pentatonic scales are used in all forms of music. Even
complex music such as jazz will use pentatonic scales.
• Blues uses mainly the minor pentatonic but depending
upon the player and tune major pentatonic scales are
also used.
• Major pentatonic scales are used extensively in country
music.
• Just listen to the sound and identify the scale in songs
that you like.
• There are really 5 pentatonic scale forms. This makes it
easy to use.
• They are even used in classical music by composers
such as Ravel and Debussy
Major Pentatonic Scales
• The formula is the 1,2,3,5 and 6 of the
major scale. Notice no 4th or 7th degree
from the major scale.
• For those who have learned the CAGED
system these are all based off of the
CAGED major scale forms.
• There is some suggested fingering but it
can vary.
Here is the D Major Pentatonic based upon the C Major Form of CAGED.
Note in Green is the root.
D Major Pentatonic
1
1
1
2
3
4
3
4
4
Note the root is on the 5th
string.
See relationship between D major scale and D major Pentatonic.
D Major Scale
1
4
1
3
3
4
4
1
1
1
2
2
D Major Pentatonic
1
3
4
Note the root is on the 5th
string.
1
2
3
4
1
4
3
4
4
Note the root is on the 5th
string.
Here is the C Major Pentatonic scale in the A form.
C Major Pentatonic
1
1
2
4
4
4
2
2
4
4
Note the root is on the 5th
string.
C Major Scale
C Major Pentatonic
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Note the root is on the 5th
string.
You could also use 1 and 3 as
fingering on the 1st 2 strings.
Note the root is on the 5th
string.
This is the G Major Pentatonic scale (E form of the CAGED). Notice how
similar to the A form (C Major pentatonic on the last page.
G Major Pentatonic
1
1
1
2
1
1
3
4
4
4
3
Note the root is on the 6th
string (E form of CAGED). This
is the same as the E minor
Pentatonic
Most players use a modified fingering for the
Major pentatonic scale as shown below but
a fingering of 2 and 4 on the 2nd string and 2 on the
1st string is also common.
G Major Scale
G Major Pentatonic
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
4
4
4
4
1
2
1
3
1
4
1
2
3
3
4
4
1
4
3
Note the root is on the 6th
string (E form of CAGED). This
is the same as the E minor
Pentatonic
Note the root is on the 6th
string (E form of CAGED). This
is the same as the E minor
Pentatonic
Compare these 2 the E form and the A form.
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
3
4
3
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
A Major Pentatonic – G form of the CAGED
A Major Pentatonic
4
1
1
1
3
3
3
1
1
4
4
Root is on the 6th string 5th fret.
A Major Scale
A Major Pentatonic
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
3
3
3
4
4
4
3
4
3
3
4
4
4
Root is on the 6th string 5th fret.
Root is on the 6th string 5th fret.
Notice the G and C forms of the pentatonic scale are very similar. Key is the
tuning of the guitar with the 2nd to 3rd strings being a 3rd rather than a 4th appart.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
3
3
3
4
4
4
3
4
4
E major pentatonic scale the
D form of CAGED
1
1
1
1
3
3
3
1
3
1
3
4
One note on this. I find it easier to do the fingering shown on the
E Major Pentatonic and it is different than on the E Major Scale. It
affords the player to just move one finger out of the position.
E major pentatonic scale the
D form of CAGED
E major scale the D form of
CAGED
0
1
1
1
1
3
3
3
1
3
1
3
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
Go through these until perfect
• Practice these every day.
• Next we will see the relationships to the
minor pentatonic scales.
• The 6th degree of a major scale is the
relative minor. For example: C major has
the relative minor of A minor. C D E F G A
Minor Pentatonic Scales
• The formula for these is: 1 b3, 4, 5, b7.
• Key is to see these as related to the major
pentatonic scale.
• With the addition on one note they
become Blues Scales.
Here is the first of the minor pentatonic scales. What does it look like in relation to
the major pentatonic scales?
B Minor Pentatonic
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
3
4
4
Note the root is on the 5th
string.
Here you can see the D major and the B minor pentatonic scales.
Notice that the form is the same only the starting note is different.
D Major Pentatonic
1
1
1
B Minor Pentatonic
1
1
1
2
3
4
2
3
3
4
1
4
Note the root is on the 5th
string.
4
3
4
4
Note the root is on the 5th
string.
Here is the A Minor pentatonic related to the C major (A form)
A Minor Pentatonic
1
1
2
4
4
4
C Major Pentatonic
4
1
2
2
2
4
4
4
Note the root is on the 6th
string.
Another fingering is shown on the next slide.
Either fingering is fine to do.
4
1
4
2
2
4
4
Note the root is on the 5th
string.
Here is the A Minor pentatonic related to the C major (A form)
A Minor Pentatonic
1
1
1
3
3
4
C Major Pentatonic
4
1
1
1
1
3
3
3
Note the root is on the 6th
string.
4
1
4
1
1
3
3
Note the root is on the 5th
string.
F# Minor pentatonic related to the A Major (G Form).
A Major Pentatonic
F# Minor Pentatonic
1
4
1
1
1
3
3
3
1
4
1
4
Root is on the 6th string 5th fret.
4
1
1
1
3
3
3
1
1
4
4
Root is on the 6th string 5th fret.
E minor pentatonic related to the G major. Here you can see how the
relative minor is the 6th note of the major scale (don’t forget the
pentatonic is missing the 4th and 7th notes of a major scale.
G Major Pentatonic
E Minor Pentatonic
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
4
4
2
3
3
4
1
3
Note the root is on the 4th
string.
4
4
4
3
Note the root is on the 6th
string (E form of CAGED). This
is the same as the E minor
Pentatonic
Again on this you could play 1 and 3 on the 2nd string and 1 on the 1st
string.
C# minor pentatonic related to the E major pentatonic (D form of CAGED).
C# minor pentatonic scale
E major pentatonic scale the
D form of CAGED
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
3
1
3
4
1
1
1
1
3
3
3
3
1
3
1
3
4
Blues Scales From Minor
Pentatonic Scales
• All that is added is the b5 of the scale.
• When playing solos this note most often
resolves to the 5th or downward to the 4th.
While it can do a skip that is less likely.
B blues is like the B minor with just the added b5 of the scale.
B Minor Pentatonic
B Blues Scale
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
1
1
1
1
2
2
3
4
1
3
4
4
Note the root is on the 5th
string. The note on the 1st fret
of the 1st string could also be
played on the 2nd string 6th fret
with the pinky
3
4
4
Note the root is on the 5th
string.
See the added notes. Note the alternate fingering for the A
Minor Pentatonic Scale.
A Blues Scale
A Minor Pentatonic
This is an alternate
fingering for this scale.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
2
3
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
Note the root is on the 6th
string.
Note the root is on the 6th
string.
F# Blues Scale
1
1
1
1
3
3
1
1
F# Minor Pentatonic
1
1
1
1
3
3
3
1
1
4
4
2
3
4
4
4
4
Root is on the 6th string 5th fret.
4
Root is on the 6th string 5th fret.
E Blues Scale
E Minor Pentatonic
1
1
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
3
4
4
4
1
2
3
3
Note the root is on the 4th
string.
4
4
4
3
Note the root is on the 4th
string.
C# Blues Scale
C# minor pentatonic scale
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
3
3
3
1
1
2
3
3
4
3
3
4
3
3
4
Lots here
• This is just the forms, next you will need to
work with them.
• On the minor pentatonic scales the flat 3rd
is many times bent up to the major 3rd in
Blues licks unless the song is in minor.
Learn where the flat 3rd is in each scale.
• It will take some time to master these.
Work on them every day.
Some examples
• Any time there is a major chord you can use the
major pentatonic scale of the same letter name.
• Any time there is a minor chord you can use the
minor pentatonic scale of the same letter name.
• Any 7th or dominant chord you can use the major
pentatonic scale. Most of the time you can also
use the minor pentatonic scale.
• In Jazz you can be more adventuresome.
Minor Pentatonic Scales In Jazz
Chord
C Major
C minor
C7
1st choice
A minor pentatonic
C minor pentatonic
G minor pentatonic
2nd choise
E minor pentatonic
G minor pentatonic
C minor pentatonic
3rd choice
B minor pentatonic
D minor pentatonic
A minor pentatonic
Try these for yourself
• Play a chord and record it then apply the
pentatonic to it.
• Some take a bit of time to get used to it.
• Then try progressions and see if you can
find a pentatonic scale that would go
against the progression.