Understanding and Using Pentatonics Creatively: Lesson 5

Watch the accompanying videos on this section of the course. I’m demonstrating patterns,
riffs and grooves, which are typical of the Minor Pentatonic scale and sound.

In the accompanying MP3’s you’ll find there are tracks to practice and play along with.

We’ll focus on 3 keys for the MP3:

The G Minor Pentatonic

The A Minor Pentatonic
The C Minor Pentatonic

In the accompanying video, I’ll give some examples of how the Minor Pentatonic scale is
used in different grooves and riff situations.
  

In the videos, I’m demonstrating these examples slowly and clearly so you can understand,
copy and apply them. Use the play along MP3’s so you can practice these examples and
come up with some of your own lines. The examples will be in one of three keys.

These following Minor Pentatonic examples can be used as bass line grooves, or if played in
a higher register of the fingerboard they can be used as a riff in a solo. The red numbers
above the note represent the scale degrees in relationship to the Minor Pentatonic scale. I’ve
also written out the examples in tablature to make it easier for you to learn.

Example 1
A Minor Pentatonic riff

Example 2
G Minor Pentatonic riff

Example 3
C Minor Pentatonic riff
  

Example 4
For this exercise I’m demonstrating a G Minor Pentatonic Scale, along with a Blues-Rock feel.
I’m just improvising around the scale, grooving and experimenting in different positions to
show you the endless possibilities with this Scale.

Example 5
The Minor Pentatonic sounds Bluesy and edgy when played over a Dominant Chord. A
Dominant Chord has a Major 3rd found within it. The Minor Pentatonic built off the same
Root has a Minor 3rd in it. This rub of playing the Minor 3rd against the Major 3rd, found within
the Dominant Chord, gives us that Bluesy Sound.

For the following demonstration I’m improvising over a G7 Dominant Chord, with the G
Minor Pentatonic Scale.

Here is a chart for a G7 Chord. Again, for the MP3, the progression repeats and vamps over
and over so you can come up with ideas freely.

Example 6
For example 5, in the Major Pentatonic chord progressions, we played over a I IV V
progression in the Key of C and improvised over it using the C Major Pentatonic Scale.

This time, in example 6 of the Minor Pentatonic section, we’re adding a Minor 7th degree to
all of the chords making them all sound more Bluesy. In this case the C Major Pentatonic
wouldn’t work over this progression, as the 3rd degree of the C Major Pentatonic Scale would
clash badly with the IV Chord (F7).

The Minor 7th degree of an F7 chord is an Eb and the 3rd degree of a C Major Pentatonic Scale
is an E. Playing a Minor 3rd against the Major 3rd within a chord creates a characteristic
sound of the Blues. A great option to play over this I7 IV7 V7 progression, in the Key of C, is a
C Minor Pentatonic. The Minor 3rd of the scale gives it a real bluesy sound.
  

Here is a chart for I7 IV7 V7 progression in the Key of C. Again, for the MP3, the progression
repeats and vamps over and over so you can come up with ideas freely. You can also play the
Minor Pentatonic over a whole Blues form, which is an extension of this I7 IV7 V7
progression.