Understanding and Using Pentatonics Creatively: Lesson 2 Major and Minor scales are 7 Notes in length, but the simpler variation of these scales is what we’ll look at in more detail in this course. Instead of being 7 notes in length, they are 5 notes and are called Pentatonic Scales. The Pentatonic Scales are probably the most used scales on the planet and whether or not you know it you’ve been listening to them year after year in some of the greatest Rock, Pop and Blues songs, and guitar/bass solos ever recorded. The Major and Minor Pentatonic are both found within the same notes; they just start at different degrees from one another. The easiest way to hear the Pentatonic sound is if you have access to a piano or keyboard. The Major and Minor Pentatonic Scale sound is built in on all of the black keys. First we’ll look at the Major Pentatonic Scale. Major Pentatonic Scale The Major Pentatonic is a 5-note scale that is widely popular and used in Pop, Rock, Blues, Reggae, Jazz and Funk Music. One famous song that immediately comes to mind is the main bass line in the Motown Song “My Girl”, played by the great bassist James Jamerson, which is basically the ascending Major Pentatonic scale. An easy way to visualize the notes found within the Major Pentatonic Scale is to look at all the black keys on a piano. Here is an example of the Major Pentatonic Scale starting on the F#. By playing the Black Keys in order from the F#, you’ll hear the sound of the F# Major Pentatonic Scale. The shape of the scale will change depending on the note you start on; however, the interval relationship will remain the same for any Major Pentatonic Scale you build.

 

F# Major Pentatonic

The numbers on the keys represent the order and sequence of the notes. On a stringed instrument the pattern for the Major Pentatonic Scale remains the same whatever key you’re playing in. This makes the pattern a lot easier to navigate through when jamming. However, I do think it’s good to know the mechanics behind any scale without always relying on the shape. To get started you can just learn the shape on the bass and play around with it. Knowing and memorizing the shapes of scales and patterns on your bass is a great and very useful thing to know; however, by hearing the sound internally you’ll get a lot further in the long run when playing grooves and improvising. Here is the fingering pattern on the bass guitar for the G Major Pentatonic Scale. The numbers inside the dots represents the fingering pattern.

 

The shape for the G Major Pentatonic starts on the 3rd fret of the E String, which is a G (the root of the chord). The next note is an A, which is on the 5th fret of the E String. Next is a B, which is on the 2nd fret of the A String. Then there is a D, which is on the 5th fret of the A String. Next is an E, which is on the 2nd fret of the D String, and finally we’re back to the Root G, which is on the 5th fret of the D String. Here is the G Major Pentatonic Scale written out in music notation. Even if you can’t read music it’s good to see the shape of the notes. More will be discussed on reading music and the benefits of it, as you get further into the Tony Grey Bass Academy. Underneath the notation is the name of the note and underneath that is the Scale Degree. The scale degrees are decided by the interval relationship between the Root (in this case G) and the scale degrees that follow. To figure out the scale degrees we simply count up the notes in order G, A, B, C, D, E, F etc. For example G to A is a 2nd degree. From G to D is a 5th degree. Again, I’ll be explaining the mechanics and theory of these scales in greater detail as we get deeper into the teachings of the Tony Grey Bass Academy, but for now I want you to be exposed to some theory so you can just enjoy and play. Here is the G Major Pentatonic Scale, ascending and descending, written over one Octave from the Root.

Next try playing all the notes available from the G Major Pentatonic Scale, moving horizontally up the neck from the Root over all 4 Strings. By playing the scale in this position from the E String across the 4 string bass, you can get the whole scale plus an extra Root, 2nd and 3rd degree. Continuing the scale moving horizontally up the neck, the shape will look like this. The numbers inside the dots represents the fingering pattern.

 

Here is the G Major Pentatonic Scale, ascending and descending, covering the whole position written from the Root.

You can play this pattern starting from any note you want. The scale will always be the same, and only the key will change. For example, if you start this pattern on the 5th fret of the E string you’ll be playing the A Major Pentatonic Scale. Learning the Major Pentatonic from the Root and from each degree is a great idea, especially if you want more options while you’re playing. Learning this scale starting from every degree on the E String gives you a lot more range to play with. Here is the fingering pattern on the bass guitar for the G Major Pentatonic starting on the 2nd degree, which is on the 5th fret. The numbers inside the dots represent the fingering pattern.

 

The shape for the G Major Pentatonic scale, moving horizontally up the neck from the 2nd

degree will look like this.

Here is the G Pentatonic Scale covering the whole position written from the 2nd degree.

Here is the fingering pattern on the bass guitar for the G Major Pentatonic starting on the 3rd degree, which is on the 7th fret. The numbers inside the dots represent the fingering pattern. The shape for the G Major Pentatonic scale, moving horizontally up the neck from the 3rd degree will look like this.

 

Here is the G Major Pentatonic Scale, covering the whole position, written from the 3rd degree.

Here is the fingering pattern on the bass guitar for the G Major Pentatonic, starting on the 5th degree, which is on the 10th fret. The numbers inside the dots represent the fingering pattern. The shape for the G Major Pentatonic scale, moving horizontally up the neck from the 5th degree will look like this.

Here is the G Major Pentatonic Scale, covering the whole position, written from the 5th

degree.

 

Here is the fingering pattern on the bass guitar for the G Major Pentatonic, starting on the 6th degree, which is on the 12th fret. The numbers inside the dots represent the fingering pattern. The shape for the G Major Pentatonic scale, moving horizontally up the neck from the 6th degree will look like this.

Here is the G Major Pentatonic Scale, covering the whole position, written from the 6th

degree.