Five notes, one position
The major pentatonic is 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. One position and a short phrase. Five diagrams later.
Adrian3 minupdated
| C major scale | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| note | C | D | E | F | G | A | B |
| pentatonic | C | D | E | G | A |
A pentatonic is five notes in an octave, not five diagrams. Degrees 4 and 7 drop out of the major scale. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 remain. The table above the text shows this in C: F and B fade.
A comparison in Scale Explorer
The Scale Explorer has no setting in the address and does not play a backing. On the screen pick Root key C, the Major scale, Position 1 and Intervals. Then, without changing the root or the position, switch to Major Pentatonic. Two dots disappear. That is the whole definition for today.
Find the roots in the box. Play the position up and down without hurry. Then four notes, a pause, an answer that ends on the root. Five allowed degrees reduce clashes, but they do not build the phrase for you. Rhythm, a pause and an ending still matter.
Position 2 is a later map, not material to drill now. The minor pentatonic has a different set of degrees. Stay with major.
Melody, not chords
In Amazing Grace the card is in G. The melody uses degrees 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. The accompaniment also has C, which is IV, so the whole song is not pentatonic by itself. Find a fragment of the melody in position 1 in G, then answer with your own short phrase from those five notes. The lyric is not needed.
Mute 4 and 7, play a phrase
In Scale Explorer compare Major with Major Pentatonic in C, Position 1. Then a short phrase that ends on the root.
Measure: the phrase ends on the root. Five notes do not guarantee a good solo.
Melody, then your own answer
The melody in G sits on 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. The chords also have C. The tool does not play a backing: a phrase on the neck, the song separately.