Say Hello to Mr Flat Five

In today's lesson we'll discuss the use of the flat 5th note in an improvisational context. The diminished 5th is a very special note as it often creates some tension. The reason is that it often clashes with the natural 5th found in most chords. The diminished 5th is most often used as a passing tone, adding a chromatic kind of effect to a scale.

However, in this lesson we'll purposely land on the flat 5th creating some tension in a thoughtful way. We will work in the key of G Dorian using mostly a minor pentatonic scale. After having memorized the suggested scale positions, work your way through the examples. As you do so, make sure that you are aware of where the diminished 5th is in your lick.

Once you are comfortable with the following licks, I encourage you to improvise over the looped backing track and create some of your own ideas using that very special note.

Practice hard and keep it fun!