The Minor 7th Pentatonic is probably the most common Pentatonic scale in use in Western improvised music. This is a wonderful first scale to learn on the Guitar, as you can use it to improvise over Minor, Major and Blues type chord structures. It also gives a great first step in understanding how all of the notes of the neck fit together when playing in a particular key.
So lets get started with the basic 5 positions of the Minor 7th Pentatonic when charted out for the guitar neck. (The root note is highlighted in black).
Here’s the same pentatonic patterns with some typical minor and minor 7th chord voicings superimposed on top. Whenever I play either the chords or the pentatonic pattern I have a visualization of the relationship of each with the other.
This is just a handy selection, there are many other chord voicings that will fit in the shape.
Major Pentatonic Charts
This same set of patterns is also ideal for playing against a Major harmony. In this case the root note changes to a different note, as shown in the diagram below.
As you can see, the shapes themselves are identical, the difference is the tonal center and how they relate to the major chords.
Again, here are the above shapes with a series of major chords superimposed on top.
Get to know the sound of these scales and the way they sound against the associated chords.
If you want to go further you may want to investigate.
- Playing over the blues – adding the “blue” note.
- The relationship of these pentatonics with the full major and minor scales.
- Exploring the other 3 possible root notes and associated harmony.
- Using these pentatonics as a tool for “playing outside” of the harmony.
- Other possible pentatonic structures.
Let me know if you are interested in me exploring some of these ideas in follow up articles.
If you want to read more about Pentatonics and their applications. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending the following two books.
Pentatonics (Inside Improvisation Series, Volume 2)
Pentatonic Khancepts
Enjoy!
Hi!
It would be of great advantage to all starters, if you listed on which scale steps of major (and probably Lydian major), both major and minor pentatonic scales can be built.
Then, these pentatonic scales can be further linked with the respective min6/9 and maj6/9 chords, and then with the min9 and maj9 chords, as well.
Then, you could take a simple vamp (of two maj or min chords, for a start), and apply these concepts to harmonic soloing over such vamp.
This is precisely what me being working on at present =)
Nice work still! Good luck =)
Hi Yuriy,
Thanks for the comments. It’s an interesting idea, maybe something for another article.
Best Regards