Major Pentatonic Scale

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Backing Tracks

Tab

Guitar pro tab (?)

Members practicing this lesson:
craig penketh
Chris Mason
burnin strings

After exploring the endless possibilities of the minor pentatonic scale, we'll unleach the secrets of the major pentatonic scale.

A major pentatonic scale has 5 notes (root, maj 2nd, maj 3rd, 5th and maj 6th). The most important thing to understand is that every major scale has a relative minor scale. To understand let's compare a C major scale aith an A moinor scale:

C Major:
C D E F G A B

A minor:
A B C D E F G

Notice that these two scales have the same exact notes. The only differenbce is the starting point of these scales. In othre words, if we use the notes above on a C Majotr chord, the scale is going to sound Major. If we use it over an A minor chord, the scale will sound minor. A note by itself has a meaning depending only on what chord is played behind.

If we apply this concept to a minor pentatonic, we'll see that if we start a minor pentatonic scale on its second note, we play a Major pentatonic.

This lesson is in C Major pentatonic. Study the examples and try to improvise over the backing tracks.

Enjoy!

Lesson Questions, Feedback & Comments

Kristofer Dahl	5th October 2007
GMC Founder & Rocker	Great explanations - and if you know the minor pentatnoic scale (usually the first thing a beginner gets to learn scale-wise), be sure to study this lesson. It will make you recycle your licks like never before!

Muris Varajic	5th October 2007
Instructor	Great phrasing David,love it!!

Amarok	5th October 2007
Member	Thanx for another great Lesson, you rock man!

Ben N	5th October 2007
Instructor	you got that right my friend!! i had aproblem to play on the major scale it just did'nt sound good... the minor on the other hand came naturaly for me... this lesson solve all my problems thanks!! i realy needed that one!! good job keep it coming

krudtaa	5th October 2007
Member	really helpful stuff.thanks.

eddiecat	7th October 2007
Member	Thank you, David! This is so helpful. Beautiful!

Juan M. Valero	7th October 2007
Instructor	Great lesson !!! and good diagrams

craig penketh	7th October 2007
Member	excellent lesson good way of learning a scale and turning it into a lick.

seanM1	8th October 2007
Member	Awesome explanation in vid 1! Just that helped me out so much, cant wait to try the actual lesson!

zoom	8th October 2007
Member	Hey David I really love this groove and I'm really enjoying play these licks along to the backing track. Thanks!

David Wallimann	5th February 2008
Instructor	Thanks guys for the comments. :-)

shideru_guitar	14th February 2008
Member	UR LESSONS ROCK! THEY JUST DO !

Carlos Carrillo	21st February 2008
Instructor	David!!!great lesson!!just what i need...

Melodicintenions	4th April 2008
Member	Recycleing my Riffs now~!