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User: hvyj

COMMON PENTATONIC SCALE BREATH PATTERNS FOR MULTIPLE POSITION PLAYING

MAJOR PENTATONIC: Root 2d 3d 5th 6th octave

MINOR PENTATONIC: Root b3d 4th 5th b7th octave


I. (SECOND AND FIFTH positions)

Second Position MAJOR PENTATONIC SCALE through 2 registers (key of G on a C harp):

D2/B3 D3** D3 4D 5B 6B 6D 7D 8D 8B 9B

Fifth Position MINOR PENTATONIC SCALE through 2 registers (key of E minor on a C harp):

B2 D2/B3 D3** D3 4D 5B 6B 6D 7D 8D 8B

You can extend either scale in either direction using the same breath pattern: D1 B9 and D10 are scale tones in each scale. This works because G major is the relative major of E minor.

II. (FIRST AND FOURTH positions)

First Position MAJOR PENTATONIC SCALE through 3 registers (key of C on a C harp):

1B 1D 2B 2D/3B 3D** 4B 4D 5B 6B 6D 7B 8D 8B 9B 10D 10B

Fourth Position MINOR PENTATONIC SCALE through 2 registers (key of A minor on a C harp):

3D** 4B 4D 5B 6B 6D 7B 8D 8B 9B 10D

You can extend the A minor pentatonic scale in either direction by playing the complete pattern for the C major pentatonic scale. This works because A minor is the relative minor of C major.

III. (THIRD AND TWELFTH positions)

Third Position MINOR PENTATONIC SCALE through 3 registers (key of D minor on a C harp):

1D 2D** 2D/3B 3D** 4B 4D 5D 6B 6D 7B 8D 9D 9B 10D 10B

Twelfth Position MAJOR PENTATONIC SCALE through 2 registers (key of F on a C harp):

2D** 2D/3B 3D** 4B 4D 5D 6B 6D 7B 8D 9D

You can extend either scale down to 1B and you can extend the F major pentatonic scale up using the same breath pattern as the D minor pentatonic scale. This works because F major is the relative major of D minor.