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THE MINOR PENTATONIC SCALE

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Most common scales use seven notes to give their specific sound, but we can also play “diet” FIVE note versions. A PENTATONIC SCALE is just a five note version of a full seven note scale (penta=five tonic=tone). Pentatonic just means omitting two notes from a given 7 note scale (there is also such a thing as a MAJOR Pentatonic scale that uses only five of the seven Major scale notes. We’ll learn all about this scale later). If you think of a full 7 note scale as a human body, the 5 note pentatonic version would be the skeleton. These skeletal notes give us the general outline of the full scale.

But why would I want to play a truncated version of a bigger scale? If I have 7 notes at my disposal why don’t I use them all?

Good question. The answer is simple-“less is more“. The more notes a scale has, the smoother it sounds (the space between notes is shorter). But when we play a pentatonic scale with less notes, it sounds more open and immediate. Pentatonic scales cut out the fat and get right to the meat of the scale. Think of them as “bullet points” for a scale-they give you just the highlights.

Because they sound so direct, they are used in several styles of music. Straight ahead R&R, Country, Rhythm & Blues, Folk, World Music, etc. all use these simple yet intimate scales in their respective genres.

Do you remember the FOUR FRET BLOCK that we learned earlier?

The Minor pentatonic scale incorporates this fingering but doesn’t use the middle (2nd) finger.

QUIZ TIME!!! HOW MANY MINOR PENTATONIC SCALES ARE THERE???

Twelve. Remember that minor pentatonic is just a scale formula or shape. We can start this shape on any of our 12 chromatic notes to produce 12 minor pentatonic scales. The same is true for other scales. For each type of scale, there are 12 possible starting places-meaning there are 12 of every kind of scale.

If, for example, we wanted to play an F# minor pentatonic scale, we would start on the letter F# as our tonic. Since our circled tonic is on the LOW E string, we need to find an F# on that string. From there, just follow the orange line for direction. Here is how you would play an F# minor pentatonic scale. Just remember that your index always plays the second fret, your ring (3rd finger) plays the fourth fret and your pinky plays the fifth fret in this example:

Follow the blue arrow to play the scale backwards (descending):

Here is the F# minor pentatonic scale ascending and descending:

POWER CHORDS

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Most basic chords contain three notes, but you can also get by with only 2. Power chords are simplified chords that omit one note. The missing note determines whether a chord is Major or Minor so removing it gives us a shape that can function as either one. These Power chords are designated as C5, E5, G5, etc. This reminds you to play only the root and 5th of the chord.

Let’s try one. Put your index finger on the 6^th string 5^th fret. Now put your ring finger on the 5^th string 7^th fret.

The index finger is the one that names the chord. Since it is currently on an A, we would call this an A power chord or an A5. Try moving this shape up one fret. We now have an A# or Bb power chord (A#5 or Bb5). Remember that the Power chord is just another movable shape. We can start this shape on all 12 notes, so there will be a total of 12 Power chords available.

Keep moving this shape up the neck one fret at a time and name each chord. If you’re having trouble keeping the shape together, the trick is to imagine that your fingers are frozen in place. Then move your hand up and down the neck.

Here are some examples showing how power chords are used +++++++++++++++++++++

We can also play power chords off the A string. Just remember that our root/tonic is now on the 5^th string. Whatever note your index finger is on names the chord. +++++demo and graphic

You can also play power chords off of the D and B string, follow the instructions above. The power chord shape won’t work based off the G string.