Pentatonic Improvisation

PENTATONIC IDEAS FOR IMPROVISING Pentatonic scales can be used in a huge variety of improvisation situations. They can be used in blues, rock, metal, jazz, country, funk etc. Listed below are some ideas to try. MAJOR CHORDS

MINOR CHORDS

Use the minor pentatonic built from the 3rd, 6th and 7th degress of the chord.

Use the minor pentatonic built from the root, 2nd and 5th degress of the chord.

CHORD

Min Pent Min Pent Min Pent 3rd 6th 7th

CHORD

Min Pent Min Pent Min Pent Root 2nd 5th

Cmaj

E

A

B

Cmi7

C

D

G

Dbmaj

F

Bb

C

Dbmi7

Db

Eb

Ab

Dmaj

F#

C

B#

Dmi7

D

EA

A

Ebmaj

G

C

D

Ebmi7

Eb

F

Bb

Emaj

G#

C#

D#

Emi7

E

F#

B

Fmaj

A

D

E

Fmi7

F

G

C

Gbmaj

Bb

Eb

F

Gbmi7

Gb

Ab

Db

Gmaj

B

E

F#

Gmi7

G

A

D

Abmaj

C

F

G

Abmi7

Ab

Bb

Eb

Amaj

C#

F#

G#

Ami7

A

B

E

Bbmaj

D

G

A

Bbmi7

Bb

C

F

Bmaj

D#

G#

A#

Bmi7

B

C#

F#

DOMINANT 7th CHORDS Use the minor pentatonic built from the 2nd, 5th and 6th degress of the chord. CHORD

Min Pent Min Pent Min Pent 5th 6th 2nd

Let’s say we have a blues progression in C. Chords are: C7, F7 & G7 for basic blues. Listed below each chord is the minor pentatonic scales you can use against those chords. It’s up to you which ones you choose.

C7

G

A

D

I would suggest starting with the following:

Db7

Ab

Bb

Eb

Over C7 use Am

D7

A

B

E

Over F7 use Cm

Eb7

Bb

C

F

Over G7 use Dm or Em

E7

B

C#

F#

C7

F7

G7

F7

C

D

G

Gm

Cm

Dm

Gb7

Db

Eb

Ab

Am

Dm

Em

G7

D

E

A

Dm

Gm

Am

Ab7

Eb

F

Bb

A7

E

F#

B

Bb7

F

G

C

B7

F#

G#

C#

Work out your choices over the 4 blues tracks on your practise CD. Write them down and have fun practising them.

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