This covers the following topics:
Why a Pentatonic works.
How a Pentatonic works.
Where to play a Pentatonic.
Who uses a Pentatonic?
How do they use the pentatonic?
What is a pentatonic?
Pentatonic scales should not be a mystery. A pentatonic scale is not something somebody came up with one day and said, “Here everybody is the pentatonic scale!” and therefore it was.
The pentatonic is actually a DERIVATIVE of the major scale.
For example: the major scale in the key of c: c d e f g a b c (7 tones)
The pentatonic major in the key of c is a subset: c d e g a (5 tones)
Therefore c major pentatonic is a SUBSET of c major.
Why these five tones?
The tones are chosen using 5th intervals in the key of c, just follow the musical alphabet…
Notes: C G D A E
Intervals: 5 tones 5 tones 5 tones 5 tones
Arrange them into one scale and you get: C D E G A
How and where do I play the pentatonic scale on the guitar?
There are five pentatonic patterns found on the guitar. See Mike’s pentatonic video for fingering patterns that are a much more thorough explanation of them than I can mention here.
Why does the pentatonic scale work over I-IV-V progressions so well? (a I – IV – V progression is the most common progression found in rock.)
The tones found in a pentatonic scale are COMMON to each scale.
For example lets take the 3 scales in the key of c that make up the I-IV-V progression:
C: C D E F G A B C
F: F G A Bb C D E F
G: G A B C D E F# G
Thus, The 5 tones in the pentatonic: C D E G A are common to each scale.
Tones that my “clash” or cause dissonance (sound out of tune) are eliminated. These are F# and Bb. The five tones that are left will sound good “no matter what”. So just go ahead and play them as much as you want and you will never hit a bad note.
Where can I find good examples of pentatonic major playing?
Artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, Neil Young, Pure Prairie League, Crosby Stills and Nash, Phish, and The Grateful Dead (just to name a few) can provide great examples and songs that you can play the pentatonic major scale along with.
Very clear explanation. Even those of us who are familiar with the theory will benefit from the refresher.
Thanks Kim!
I know this isn’t about the pentatonic scale but I have noticed something that I don’t understand.F isn’t in the key of G major. So would an F sound wrong if it were to be played over the V or G chord over a progression that is in the key of Cmajor? The same goes for B over the IV or F chord. This is what confuses me about scales/modes. Any help you’re able to give me would be appreciated.
Hey Todd, Thanks for the question. It’s a great one and not the easiest to answer because it depends on a few things.
#1. Playing an F over a G chord in many cases will sound ok. Especially if it’s a G7 chord, which contains an F. Many times the V chord is substituted for the V7 so in this case, the V7 would be G7 which has the notes: G, B, D, and F.
#2. It also depends how and when the note is played… If your playing it as a passing tone to connect notes that are in the key, then in many cases it will also sound good and usable. If you hit the note and just hang on it while the rest of the chord progression moves on.. then you might start hearing it clash against other chords.
#3. If you are in the key of C major, then F is a note that is in your key so it will sound good.
Understanding the relationship between scales and modes can get pretty confusing at times. You are in the right mindset of thinking how one particular note will sound against a chord. To better understand the concepts, it takes a lot of practice and ear training to know what sounds good over what… Also keep in mind that what sounds good to you might not to someone else.
One of the best ways to practice this is to record yourself playing just one chord over and over. Then practice scales, licks and different modal patterns to hear how things interact. The minute you start introducing chord changes, things become much more complex so it’s best to practice over a static chord first.
Let me know if that helps
Mike D
So, is the pentatonic major scale any major scale minus the 4th and 7th? By the way, the explanation is very clear on what a pentatonic scale is.
Hey Darryl, Yes that is correct… The Major Pentatonic scale is created by dropping the 4th and 7th scale tones from the regular major scale.
Mike D
cxplanation is clear but could have made more marks if the web side of the so called mark was included for that fingering issue
Bertie,
Thanks for your comment. I’m not quite sure what you mean when you say “Marks”. Can you be more specific on what you are referring to
Mike D