Wouldn\u2019t it be great if there was just one scale that you could learn, that would allow you to be able to play, solo and improvise over almost any chord progression?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, it turns out, there is! And I have to confess that I had NO idea it even existed! For years I was playing the piano, playing in bands and writing my own songs and I didn\u2019t know about this scale (don\u2019t judge me).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was making life WAY harder for myself, especially when it comes to soloing or playing melodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m talking about the Pentatonic scale. It is, without doubt, the easiest and most useful scale you will ever learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s only 5 notes! (that\u2019s where the \u2018pent\u2019 comes from). There is a major Pentatonic scale and a minor Pentatonic scale. Each only has 5 notes, but they are a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s start with the major Pentatonic scale. We\u2019ll use the key of G as an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A normal G major scale has the following notes<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7<\/strong> The major Pentatonic scale consists of the 1, 2, 3, 5 & 6 notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So the G major Pentatonic scale is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n G-A-B-D-E<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What makes the Pentatonic scale so amazing is that you can play those notes over pretty much any progression in the key of G. You can play them in any order, together or on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ok, let\u2019s move on to the minor Pentatonic. The minor Pentatonic has a different formula, but still only uses 5 notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s use E minor for our example. The notes of an E natural minor scale are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7<\/strong> The minor Pentatonic scale consists of the 1,3,4,5 & 7 notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So the E minor Pentatonic scale is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n E-G-A-B-D<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now let\u2019s just stop. Notice anything similar? The notes of the E minor Pentatonic and G major Pentatonic are EXACTLY the same!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s because E minor is the relative minor of G major! So — the minor Pentanoic scale has the same notes as its relative major Pentatonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I think that\u2019s so cool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But if you just learn the formula, that might be an easier way to remember it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n And again this scale can be used over pretty much any chord progression in the minor key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So try it out! There is so much to explore and discover with the Pentatonic scales. And they provide such a wonderful starting point for riffs, runs, and melodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
G – A – B – C – D – E – F#<\/strong><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Minor Pentatonic Scale<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
E – F# – G – A – B – C – D<\/strong><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n