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Pent positions... when to shift?


edstate

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Posted

I'm just starting to really get the Major Pent positions, and I've run into a little delima... I hope this makes sense:

 

Sometimes, when I'm jamming over, say, a 1-4-5, I can STAY on the 1's Pent, just switching the positions, and it sounds awesome.

 

However, sometimes (different song, obviously) it sounds better to actually change Pents WITH the chords.

 

What determines this?

 

TIA,

 

e

 

:confused:

Posted

Are you talking about changing positions within the same pentatonic scale, or changing which pentatonic scale you are using (like changing between C major and F major pentatonics)?

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Posted

Not changing position... but changing the actual scale.

 

So, instead of just playing C minor Pent over C-F-G... which I think sounds great... but actually switching from C minor Pent -to- F minor Pent -to- G minor Pent along with the progression.

 

e

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Posted

 

Originally posted by edstate

Not changing position... but changing the actual scale.


So, instead of just playing C minor Pent over C-F-G... which I think sounds great... but actually switching from C minor Pent -to- F minor Pent -to- G minor Pent along with the progression.


e

 

 

Try playing in C major pent instead.

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Posted

A tip:

 

Use minor penta (or blues) for the I chord and major penta for the IV chord. Then switch back to the first blues scale (Tonic) for the V chord.

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Posted

First of all, apologies> I just re-read my first post and I have NO idea why I wrote MAJOR Pents... I was talking about MINOR all along. Duh. And I do realize that they're the same intervals, but different roots, different bend notes, etc.

 

So, since I first posted, I've been playing along with my "Guitar-eee-okie" (which has a bunch of different backing track "genres"). And I positively RIP on the BLUES progressions ;) using the different positions of the root's MINOR PENT. From what I can tell, these minor blues-type progressions don't seem to need the scale to MOVE: for instance, an Am Pent can be played over a bluesy A7-D7-E7 progression, with a shift in the POSITION of the scale, but not the scale itself.

 

However, when a MAJOR PENT is required... the scale wants to move WITH the changes. For instance, one of the songs has this common "walking" MAJOR progression:

 

1-3-5-6-8-6-5-3:||

 

So although the chords are C-F-G, staying with the C MAJOR PENT, and shifting positions doesn't sound right to me. I'm having to play C Major Pent, then shift with the chord change to F Major Pent, to G Major pent, etc.

 

Hmmmm... does this sound right? Is this "shifting" a function of the Major-vs-Minor?

 

Also, Bajazz: I tried your tip... I'm assuming on the IV you're playing the IV's MAJOR PENT, as opposed to the I's? I thought it sounded interesting... definitely adds a differen't flavor than just staying minor throughout.

 

Sorry to be so wordy. I'm just starting to figure this stuff out, and the are lightbulbs starting to go off in my noggin!

 

e

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