pentatonic scale

[Tony]

And that is the key to play.  The A minor is the relative minor of C major.  Playing an A minor pentatonic scale.  The example given earlier was the E minor pentatonic being played over the key of G major.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
C D E F G A B C
G A B C D E F#G

The key is C, the relative minor is A, play the A minor pentatonic scale over anything in the key of C.

The key is G, the relative minor is E, play the E minor pentatonic scale over anything in the key of G.

Try it, it works but like everything else, you have to make it sound good.  It doesn't do it on its own.

[Farmjazz]

Key of G:
G-Am-Bm-C-D-Em-Fdim-G
I-ii-iii-IV-V-vi-vii-I

The 7th chord in a harmonized G Major scale is actually F#dim.

The word Pentatonic just means a scale with only five notes. Penta - 5, tonic - tones. The most common "pentatonic" scale used in rock/blues is I - bIII - IV - V - bVII. So, in the key of G Major, the notes are G - Bb - C - D - F. Bb and F are outside the normal scale tones and are termed "blue" notes because they have a bluesy sound when used against a Major key.

[AlchemyMN]

Key of G:
G-Am-Bm-C-D-Em-Fdim-G
I-ii-iii-IV-V-vi-vii-I

The 7th chord in a harmonized G Major scale is actually F#dim.

Thanks for catching that F#, I was typing in a hurry.

For any MAJOR Key the pattern is:

Whole-Whole-Half-Whole-Whole-Whole-Half

C-Dm-Em-F-G-Am-Bdim-C
G-Am-Bm-C-D-Em-F#dim-G
etc.

I-ii-iii-IV-V-vi-vii-I

[AlchemyMN]

This may as well be written in Chinese. I have no idea what you're all talking about 

Sounds impressive though.

I know nothing except what sounds right / good to my ears. It's not a bad place to start 

If I mapped out the chords in all your songs, my guess is that they would line up with Piston's Rules nearly perfectly.  This table is for those of us that don't hear it in our heads straight away.

I have another table of common substitutions that is also pretty useful for us ear-less people, it will explain most of the "surprises" that show up in pop tunes...

[tkofaith]

If I mapped out the chords in all your songs, my guess is that they would line up with Piston's Rules nearly perfectly.  This table is for those of us that don't hear it in our heads straight away.

I have another table of common substitutions that is also pretty useful for us ear-less people, it will explain most of the "surprises" that show up in pop tunes...

Could you post that substitutions table, too, please?   

[3guitarsEddy]

So, does the Pentatonic scale retain it's shape over the length of the fretboard, or does it change with each key.  And thanks you guys, you've really enlightened me tonight.

Keep on Strumming

Eddy.

[tkofaith]

So, does the Pentatonic scale retain it's shape over the length of the fretboard, or does it change with each key.  And thanks you guys, you've really enlightened me tonight.

The shape remains the same except where it meets the B string.  There the pattern moves up one fret.

[Tony]

There are five shapes that you can use over the length of the fretboard.  That is five different patterns that will play the same scale at different positions on the fretboard.  Just like any scale or chord, there is a version that will fit any 4/5 fret reach that happens to be under your fingers. 

Those five shapes will work for each key, although you have to figure out which is appropriate for where you are on the neck.

[3guitarsEddy]

Think I might try and learn music again, started in the 60s and it fell off my curriculum.

Cheers Guys

Eddy.

[AlchemyMN]

If I mapped out the chords in all your songs, my guess is that they would line up with Piston's Rules nearly perfectly.  This table is for those of us that don't hear it in our heads straight away.

I have another table of common substitutions that is also pretty useful for us ear-less people, it will explain most of the "surprises" that show up in pop tunes...

Could you post that substitutions table, too, please?   

Apply Piston's Rules then use these
Other Chord Progression Substitutions

Chords in Key

I  ii  iii  IV  V  vi  vii

Chords in Closely Related, Relative Minor, and Parallel Keys

I  II   III     v      bVII or vii

Chords in Parallel Keys

   bII  bIII or biii  iv   bV   bVI   bvii

Examples:

A major

A   Bm   C#m   D   E   F#m   Gdim   A

Parallel Key of A Minor

Am   B   C#   D   E   F   G   Am

Closley related, relative minor, and parallel:

A   B   C      Em                   F#    or   Gm
or   Bb           Cm      Dm          Eb