Mirco
215 posts
Oct 11, 2014
4:56 PM
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In short: how do I use the pentatonic scale to solo?
A lot of players have suggested I learn this scale. It's good for rock, pop, country, swing. I don't know how to apply it, though. When approaching a solo, do I:
a) noodle around the scale, going up and down the scale, playing notes only from the scale as I feel like it;
b) play only the notes from the pentatonic scale that follow the chord changes;
c) play repetitively, making up short phrases from the scale to play over the chord changes?
How do YOU use the pentatonic scale?
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Moon Cat
465 posts
Oct 11, 2014
5:01 PM
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All three A, B and C and learn some patterns with it. I have of free youtube vids on this subject. Good Question! Remember there is BOTH a major and minor Pent scale...-Jason Ricci
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www.mooncat.org
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JInx
910 posts
Oct 11, 2014
7:17 PM
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Listen for it, look for it in the music you have some bas basic semblance of understanding. Learn to identify it's use in various harmonic contexts
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Last Edited by JInx on Oct 11, 2014 7:42 PM
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kudzurunner
5034 posts
Oct 11, 2014
7:43 PM
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I don't know if I talk much about soloing per se in these two videos, but I give you a sense of how the scale works and how you can create music with it:
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kudzurunner
5035 posts
Oct 11, 2014
7:46 PM
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And yes, as per Moocat: There's a minor pentatonic scale with the flat third and flat seventh, and a major pentatonic scale (country scale) with a major third and major sixth. Blues scale and country scale. It's essential to learn both and then learn how to dance between them.
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Pistolcat
713 posts
Oct 12, 2014
1:47 AM
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Very good questions! It's hard to weigh in after mooncat and kudzu, what they both said is spot on. To use the minor AND the major pentatonic sale is a great way to create tension. I learned this from a workshop with Mikael Fall.
Your a Dave Barrett guy right? Try applying the major pentatonic for your Question part and the minor to the Answer part. It'll create a very convincing illusion of a dialogue.
Major pentatonic Q: "Why are you so mad, baby? I see you wear that frown."
Minor pentatonic A:"It's because you were out drinking and came home smelling perfume!"
I made a video a year ago on this theme. I separate the 12-bars in minor/blues and major pentatonics here. The singing is not too good but it really helps me visualising the parts, right?
http://youtu.be/a-1tNJTrk_8
Just my two cents...
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
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Goldbrick
720 posts
Oct 12, 2014
5:12 AM
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This might help
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The Iceman
2202 posts
Oct 12, 2014
5:27 AM
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Remember that scales are merely note choices.
To run up and down them will familiarize you with the notes and their sound.
To pull notes out of the scale to create ideas is the key to improv.
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The Iceman
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Mirco
216 posts
Oct 12, 2014
9:27 AM
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Thanks! Great responses.
Adam's videos above are very good at providing the fundamental ideas behind playing the scales (even if his video is for blues scale, I can use the same ideas). I watched one of Jason's, too, but he takes off like a racecar and I can't keep up with the playing.
I have not yet learned the minor pentatonic, but it includes the flat 3rd and flat 7th? So it's basically the blues scale? Doesn't the flat 7 clash with the 6?
I have to start with baby steps on this. I want the pentatonic down cold before moving on. Good idea, pistolcat, about alternating scales. I'll try that out.
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timeistight
1647 posts
Oct 12, 2014
9:28 AM
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Here are some things to try:
- Play the major pentatonic of the key over the I chord and the minor pentatonic of the key over the IV and V chords.
- Play the pentatonic scale that corresponds to each chord. For example, if the chord progression is C Am F G, play the C major pentatonic, A minor pentatonic, F pentatonic, and G pentatonic scales over the appropriate chords.
- Try adding a note to each scale. For instance, adding a flatted seventh to each major pentatonic scale will let you play the familiar six-note boogie-woogie pattern over each chord. Adding a flatted fifth to the minor pentatonic gives you the blues scale. Adding a minor third to the major pentatonic gives a useful scale sometimes called the "major blues" scale.
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markdc70
154 posts
Oct 13, 2014
8:00 AM
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@ Mirco: Yes, the blues scale is also the minor pentatonic scale. Start with the major pentatonic scale, remove the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th, and replace them with a flat 3rd (3 draw bent a semi-tone) and a flat 7th (regular 5 draw).
Last Edited by markdc70 on Oct 13, 2014 8:01 AM
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HarpNinja
3952 posts
Oct 13, 2014
8:15 AM
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Play the 2nd position blues scale without the 4 draw bends and BOOM you're playing the minor pentatonic!
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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ridge
555 posts
Oct 13, 2014
2:53 PM
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I recorded this and then realized the OP was asking about soloing using pentatonic scales. I made an effort, and, although it's not EXACTLY what was asked for, I'm putting it here anyway. Maybe it sparks someones imagination.
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Ridge's YouTube
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The Iceman
2206 posts
Oct 13, 2014
3:58 PM
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Two examples of using the note choices in the pentatonic scale to make music.
1. Bass line for "My Girl"
2. That unison line in Stevie Wonders' "Sir Duke" (with one passing tone added - b3rd)
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The Iceman
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Mirco
217 posts
Oct 13, 2014
4:24 PM
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Thanks for all the answers. I think I'm going to start, as Adam suggested, by taking small sections of the scale (3-4 notes) at a time and just playing around with them. I'll put on an appropriate uptempo jam track. As I get more proficient, I'll start using more and more of the notes of the scale.
Thanks, especially, to ridge, who was thoughtful enough to record a video to answer my question.
The idea of playing different pentatonic scales to match the chord changes is a little busy for me, at this point. Besides, enough of the notes match up that playing just the pentatonic scale of the I seems to be fine.
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JInx
912 posts
Oct 13, 2014
4:45 PM
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Find the one pentatonic scale you can use for any chord progression built from the diationc scale. Hint: its built from the 5th.
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