2nd Degree Pentatonic Scale
Lesson 3 - 2nd Degree Pentatonic Scale Pattern
Lesson Tabs & Music
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Perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself, but is the A minor pentatonic something I would use over the relative major if I was playing in the key of C, or would I have to start on the 1st degree to accommodate that?
Yes you totally can do that! The main thing to keep in mind is what key your are actually in so that you know where your phrasing should end. I.E. If you are in the key of C Major you can use the A Minor scale to improvise with, since it’s using the same notes. You just want to understand that if your chord progression is coming back to the one chord, then you will most likely want to end your soloing or lick phrase on C rather than A to connect with it better.
Sometimes when you get really use to playing in the minor pentatonic box pattern, you have licks and phrases that always end on the root of the scale… But if you are using the scale as a relative and not the actual key, then those same licks and phrases will not connect as well when ending a phrase
Mike D
So, just to clarify. Should I start on position 1 if I’m playing in C major, then use the other positions to riff around with and essentially resolve on position 1? I’ve also been told that moving the 6th position up (towards the headstock) a tone and a half will put you in relative major territory. Which of these do you recommend?
Also, do you plan on adding a Major pentatonic lesson? I’ve alway’s been a melodic player rather than a shredder. I think this would be a terrific follow-up to this set of lessons.
Because I’ve seen students adapt these methods and ideas in their own way… I don’t “recommend” one way over the other. What I suggest doing is going through these lessons and concepts, make sure you understand how all of the different patterns are related to both each other and the key signature you are in… and THEN see how you can use them to come up with your own voice, licks and phrases
In regards to the Major Pentatonic lesson, this is the best one to watch: https://rockguitarpower.com/guitarlessons/the-major-pentatonic-scale/
Mike D
Added clarification – I understand that I can resolve on the C note in any position, I’m just wondering with my above comment if either of these two techniques I mention would make for a safer, or preferable approach. To re-itterate – those being moving position 6 one and a half tones up, or starting on position 1 of the pentatonic. Sorry, man you’ve laid eggs in my brain and I think they’re starting to hatch.
Again… It’s all about understanding what’s actually happening and then creating your own voice. I’ve seen people who approach it many different ways and do awesome with it, so I don’t want to just recommend one thing over the other.
The 6th position is the Relative Minor so if you are in a major key, it’s using the minor pentatonic scale, which for most players, is the first scale they learn so it is always a familiar scale to use. Just have to keep in mind what key you are actually in and make sure that your phrases end with the root