hey there Andrew! Ive recently embarked on a journey to find out how to master the modal pentatonics.From my research, the formula for the modal pentatonics is (1,3,4,5,7). Is this correct? Like if you start with the Am pentatonic, which is ACDEG, then want to go to C ionian pentatonic, would the C ionian pentatonic be CEFGB? Im just really confused and need clarification on everything. I already know what the modes are but I do not know how to transpose them into different keys and such. Please Help! haha
-Alex
Sorry to butt in, Andrew, I just can't help myself from answering theory questions
If you're referring to David's modal pentatonics, a bit of a different approach here.
David has basically looked at the formulae for each mode, and broken it down from dia to pentatonic.
Dia=7
Penta=5
To do this, you need to know which intervals 'make' the mode.
Take lydian for example, 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7. This is exactly like major, just with an augmented 4th.
You could really do anything you want here, aslong as you remove two notes.
Obviously we need the #4th, as it will do most of the shaping.
Now, take Locrian for example.
1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 7
Here we are 4 mods off the major scale. How would you break this down to 5?
The answer is really to experiment and do what you want, but the outcome should be 5 notes that still sounds somewhat like Locrian.
Phrygian is also very similiar to the Locrian mode:
1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 7
So you see that the most important key in Locrian is prolly the b2 b3 b5, etc. As these make it diminished.
This may be a bit confusing, but look at how Walli created it, and get your own ideas.
Honestly I think Walli has pretty much done an awesome job at it, and personally I just copied it instead of making any changes.
I hope this answered your question!
Edit:
Walliman chose 1 3 4 5 7 of each mode.