Introducing Pentatonic Scales for Jazz Guitar

Introducing Pentatonic Scales

for Jazz Guitar

ISBN: 978-1-329-08787-3

This book is dedicated to Martina

JazzGuitarMaster.com

Any part of this book is property of JazzGuitarMaster.com.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the

prior written permission of the author.

Introduction

Introducing Pentatonic Scales for Jazz Guitar explores the use of major and minor pentatonic scales.

This book covers following arguments:

Pentatonic scale construction

Major and Minor pentatonic analysis and modes

How to study pentatonic scales:  positions, scale patterns, melodic patterns, unusual positions for tapping, legatos, sweep and economic picking

Improvisation licks: mixing major scale and related major pentatonic scales, most common improvisation approaches

Main goal of this book is developing a real melodic approach to pentatonic usage starting from most basic material to intermediate improvisation techniques..

Whose this book is for

This book is intended for beginner/intermediate guitar player who wants to be introduced to pentatonic scale usage and melodic applications.

How to use book material

This book presents a huge number of exercises: you’ll suggested to study them preferring sound quality to speed and mechanic playing. You’re invited to transpose exercises in different tonalities.

Construction of pentatonic scales

Commonly pentatonic scales are described as scales constructed by stacking 5 pitches a perfect 5th one above the previous.

For example you have: C + (5th interval) G + (5th interval) D + (5th interval) A + (5th interval) E.

This scale is named Major Pentatonic: C D E G A

Another way construct a pentatonic scale is selecting notes from major scale avoiding half-steps and consecutive minor thirds.

This approach results in 3 different pentatonic major scale: for example from C Major scale we will have C Major, F Major, G Major Pentatonic scales.

Major pentatonic is resolving to root or to fourth scale tone. This tendency supports the evidence that 4th mode has a specific character: it is commonly called Minor Pentatonic scale.

Notes for C Major Pentatonic:

Formula for Major Pentatonic scale is: 1,2,3,5,6

Using same notes, but starting from A we have: A C D E G, that is called Minor Pentatonic.

Formula for Minor Pentatonic scale is: 1,b3,4,5,b7

It is clear than Major and Minor Pentatonic are 2 modes of the same scale.

For simplicity we will provide materials and analysis both for Major and Minor Pentatonic.

In our experience we're used to think to major pentatonic in most cases apart from minor chord improvisation.

Introducing Major Pentatonic scale

Major pentatonic scale is composed by: tonic, major second, major third, perfect fifth nad major sixth.

It is commonly used in place of major scale.

Major pentatonic scales in most common tonalities

Notes for C Major Pentatonic: C, D, E, G, A

Notes for D Major Pentatonic: D, E, F#, A, B

Notes for Eb Major Pentatonic: Eb, F, G, Bb, C

Notes for E Major Pentatonic: E, F#, G#, B, C#

Notes for F Major Pentatonic: F, G, A, C, D

Notes for G Major Pentatonic: G, A, B, D, E

Notes for A Major Pentatonic: A, B, C#, E, F#

Notes for Bb Major Pentatonic: Bb, C, D, F, G

Major Pentatonic scale Modes

5 different modes are available for each pentatonic scale:

Degrees for mode I: 1,2,3,5,6

Degrees for mode II: 1,2,4,5,b7

Degrees for mode III: 1,b3,4,b6,b7

Degrees for mode IV: 1,2,4,5,6

Degrees for mode V: 1,b3,4,5,b7

So for each note you have 5 available major pentatonic scales:

Mode I with root on C: C, D, E, G, A

Mode II with root on C: C, D, F, G, Bb

Mode III with root on C: C, Eb, F, Ab, Bb

Mode IV with root on C: C, D, F, G, A

Mode V with root on C: C, Eb, F, G, Bb

Introducing Minor Pentatonic scale

Minor pentatonic scale is composed by: tonic, minor third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth and minor seventh.

It is commonly used in place of minor scale.

Minor pentatonic scales in most common tonalities

Notes for C Minor Pentatonic: C, Eb, F, G, Bb

Notes for D Minor Pentatonic: D, F, G, A, C