Comments on: How To Use Pentatonic Scale Patterns 1, 3 & 4 http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4-57/ Learn guitar theory video lessons Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:46:57 +0000 hourly 1 By: The Tortoise http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4-57/#comment-71 The Tortoise Sun, 18 May 2008 22:45:23 +0000 http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/blog/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4/57#comment-71 Hi Dan... that's a big question. The simplest was is just play Dm pent over all the chords. It works. Another thing is to change one note of the Dm pent to more accommodate the G chord. Normally, the G would be Gmin. But it's been changed to G7. Instead of a Bb note they add a B note. So just change the C to a B in your Dm pentatonic scale. That would make it a Dm6 pentatonic or a G7 pentatonic. Or what's called an 'altered' pentatonic scale. There's a moving line in there too. E.g., On Dm you could emphasize the C note - then for G chord emphasize the B note - then for the Bb chord emphasize the Bb note - then down to the A note for the Dm chord again. You could do that with Dm pent 5th fret. Or you could play off the triads. Another way is to think C major scale for the G7 (or the Dm and G7) and then think Fmajor (or D natural minor) for Bb and Dm. There's only one note difference. B or Bb. As to what should you think? Well that's up to you. Depends what tools you have under your belt and how fast you want to think. But combining pentatonics with triads is pretty cool. I'll make a video to show what I mean. Later today or tomorrow. But I have to do some lessons for my members first. :) P.S. With pentatonics, many people just think in minor, rather than major and minor. For example... Gmajor chord think Em pent and Bbmajor chord think Gm pent. Hi Dan… that's a big question.

The simplest was is just play Dm pent over all the chords. It works.

Another thing is to change one note of the Dm pent to more accommodate the G chord. Normally, the G would be Gmin. But it's been changed to G7. Instead of a Bb note they add a B note. So just change the C to a B in your Dm pentatonic scale. That would make it a Dm6 pentatonic or a G7 pentatonic. Or what's called an 'altered' pentatonic scale.

There's a moving line in there too. E.g., On Dm you could emphasize the C note – then for G chord emphasize the B note – then for the Bb chord emphasize the Bb note – then down to the A note for the Dm chord again. You could do that with Dm pent 5th fret.

Or you could play off the triads.

Another way is to think C major scale for the G7 (or the Dm and G7) and then think Fmajor (or D natural minor) for Bb and Dm.

There's only one note difference. B or Bb.

As to what should you think? Well that's up to you. Depends what tools you have under your belt and how fast you want to think.

But combining pentatonics with triads is pretty cool.

I'll make a video to show what I mean. Later today or tomorrow. But I have to do some lessons for my members first. :)

P.S. With pentatonics, many people just think in minor, rather than major and minor.

For example… Gmajor chord think Em pent and Bbmajor chord think Gm pent.

]]> By: Dan http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4-57/#comment-70 Dan Sun, 18 May 2008 18:57:20 +0000 http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/blog/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4/57#comment-70 Greetings from Chicago USA. Thank you so much Tortoise for your website. It is very helpful. I am familiar with the minor pentatonic and Major pentatonic scales but I have had trouble actually applying them and this tutorial is now helping me see the light. I have two questions. First, suppose I want to play solo when someone is playing in the key of Dminor but includes MAJOR chords in the riff. For instance , the Yardbirds awesome song “Heart Full of Soul” contains a solo that is played over this turnaround : Dminor, Gmajor, Bflat, Dminor ( i, IV, bVII, i ). Now say I am on lead guitar and someone begins strumming the G major part, do I then slide to the frets where I can play Gmajor pentatonic? And likewise when the Bflat major chord appears, do I as the lead then have to figure out where to go next to play a Bflat major pentatonic pattern.? Or do I just stick with all Dminor patterns thoughout the solo? My next question is what should me as the lead guitarist be thinking when I am supposed to play a solo. Let’s assume that 1. My ears are trained enough to recognize any chord, both major and minor. 2. I know all the major and minor (CAGED) patterns. Whenever you are soloing (let’s say for this song) and you hear a dminor chord are you telling yourself (albeit very quickly!) “I recognize this chord is a dminor, therefore I will find a place on the guitar where there is a d note. Now based on where on the fretboard I choose which d note to play (say 5th fret on the 5th string), I will pick the minor pentatonic pattern number which has root d on that string and fret (so if I chose the d on the 5th fret of the 5th string, I will pick the A shape pattern, i.e. the 4th pattern) and I will start playing notes in that pattern.” And then you hear the G chord and tell yourself “Now I recognize someone is strumming a G chord (or IV major) so I must figure out which fret my fingers are closest to which contains a G note. Once I decide which fret and string has the G note I want to play, I will choose the major pentatonic pattern for that G note . I know there is a g note on the 12th fret of the 3rd string, so I will bring my fingers up there and start playing the major pentatonic pattern which has the G root note on the third string 12th fret. ( G shape pattern, i.e. major pentatonic pattern 5). Not that I will necessarily play a G note when I am in the G major pentatonic pattern 5, but at least I have to play only those notes in G major pentatonic patter 5(G shape) when a G major chord is playing” So in a nutshell, When playing a solo in the key of d minor Can I include minor pentatonic patters as well as Major pentatonic patterns (and I will play the major pentatonic pattern when I hear a major chord)? Does a good soloist react based on the chord he hears and plays that chord’s pentatonic pattern and will choose which pattern # he will play based on where he is on the fretboard and what string he wants to play on? Sorry for the long question, but anything you can suggest or how I should think while playing a solo would be much help. Cheers Dan Chicago, USA Greetings from Chicago USA.
Thank you so much Tortoise for your website. It is very helpful.
I am familiar with the minor pentatonic and Major pentatonic scales but I have had trouble actually applying them and this tutorial is now helping me see the light.

I have two questions.
First, suppose I want to play solo when someone is playing in the key of Dminor
but includes MAJOR chords in the riff.
For instance , the Yardbirds awesome song “Heart Full of Soul” contains a solo that is played over this turnaround : Dminor, Gmajor, Bflat, Dminor ( i, IV, bVII, i ).
Now say I am on lead guitar and someone begins strumming the G major part,
do I then slide to the frets where I can play Gmajor pentatonic? And likewise when the Bflat major chord appears, do I as the lead then have to figure out where to go next to play a Bflat major pentatonic pattern.? Or do I just stick with all Dminor patterns thoughout the solo?

My next question is what should me as the lead guitarist be thinking when I am supposed to play a solo.
Let’s assume that
1. My ears are trained enough to recognize any chord, both major and minor.
2. I know all the major and minor (CAGED) patterns.

Whenever you are soloing (let’s say for this song) and you hear a dminor chord are you telling yourself (albeit very quickly!)
“I recognize this chord is a dminor, therefore I will find a place on the guitar where there is a d note. Now based on where on the fretboard I choose which d note to play (say 5th fret on the 5th string), I will pick the minor pentatonic pattern number which has root d on that string and fret (so if I chose the d on the 5th fret of the 5th string, I will pick the A shape pattern, i.e. the 4th pattern) and I will start playing notes in that pattern.”
And then you hear the G chord and tell yourself
“Now I recognize someone is strumming a G chord (or IV major) so I must figure out
which fret my fingers are closest to which contains a G note. Once I decide which fret and string has the G note I want to play, I will choose the major pentatonic pattern for that G note . I know there is a g note on the 12th fret of the 3rd string, so I will bring my fingers up there and start playing the major pentatonic pattern which has the G root note on the third string 12th fret. ( G shape pattern, i.e. major pentatonic pattern 5). Not that I will necessarily play a G note when I am in the G major pentatonic pattern 5, but at least I have to play only those notes in G major pentatonic patter 5(G shape) when a G major chord is playing”

So in a nutshell,
When playing a solo in the key of d minor
Can I include minor pentatonic patters as well as Major pentatonic patterns (and I will play the major pentatonic pattern when I hear a major chord)?
Does a good soloist react based on the chord he hears and plays that chord’s pentatonic

pattern and will choose which pattern # he will play based on where he is on the fretboard and what string he wants to play on?

Sorry for the long question, but anything you can suggest or how I should think while playing a solo would be much help.

Cheers
Dan
Chicago, USA

]]> By: bryan http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4-57/#comment-66 bryan Thu, 26 Apr 2007 09:55:04 +0000 http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/blog/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4/57#comment-66 i like the normal way around (but i play left handed, so..) i like the normal way around (but i play left handed, so..)

]]> By: Simon http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4-57/#comment-69 Simon Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:01:40 +0000 http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/blog/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4/57#comment-69 The videos are both good. But the first is better(Not the mirrow image.) The videos are both good. But the first is better(Not the mirrow image.)

]]> By: lundee http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4-57/#comment-68 lundee Sat, 14 Apr 2007 11:32:08 +0000 http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/blog/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4/57#comment-68 I appreciate this discussion because it reveals a lot about the way people want to learn. While the vast majority here have expressed an emphatic preference for the traditional point of view of student learning from a right handed teacher there's a noisy minority, including I think JB himself who knows that, somehow or some way, there's a more effective perspective to teach and learn guitar using video. The objective here is to find a means that strikes some balance. I find it interesting, for example, to learn that a left-handed player acknowledges an advantage of learning from a right hand player. If nothing else the mirror image proposal has at least got us asking, "Is there a better way?" A few people here have proposed yet another idea of filming the fingerboard from the master's perspective. That is, a view of the fingerboard with the base string at the bottom or closest to the observer. This is, after all, a most familiar perspective to any player, though for lefties and righties the nut must be opposite. JB acknowledges the merit of this video perspective idea though he notes the challenge of mounting his camera from a birds-eye view. One way to make this work, if JB is inclined and has access to a second camera or can be donated one, is to provide an inset image. One camera filming JB from an outside or observers point of view, the other mounted upside down and close to the chording or fingering hand. If we can agree to provide left-handed players the same advantage we will need to figure a way to reverse the image of the second camera view... I appreciate this discussion because it reveals a lot about the way people want to learn. While the vast majority here have expressed an emphatic preference for the traditional point of view of student learning from a right handed teacher there's a noisy minority, including I think JB himself who knows that, somehow or some way, there's a more effective perspective to teach and learn guitar using video. The objective here is to find a means that strikes some balance. I find it interesting, for example, to learn that a left-handed player acknowledges an advantage of learning from a right hand player. If nothing else the mirror image proposal has at least got us asking, "Is there a better way?" A few people here have proposed yet another idea of filming the fingerboard from the master's perspective. That is, a view of the fingerboard with the base string at the bottom or closest to the observer. This is, after all, a most familiar perspective to any player, though for lefties and righties the nut must be opposite. JB acknowledges the merit of this video perspective idea though he notes the challenge of mounting his camera from a birds-eye view. One way to make this work, if JB is inclined and has access to a second camera or can be donated one, is to provide an inset image. One camera filming JB from an outside or observers point of view, the other mounted upside down and close to the chording or fingering hand. If we can agree to provide left-handed players the same advantage we will need to figure a way to reverse the image of the second camera view…

]]> By: Ken Mustain http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4-57/#comment-67 Ken Mustain Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:01:27 +0000 http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/blog/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4/57#comment-67 Good Grief...LOL...Makes me wonder if some of these guys ever went to other worthless sites and checked out their freebies.... The regular view is best for me...You gave more useful examples of soloing and how to do it..here in this short clip than CDs I have purchaced for ...well Im not telling how much I paid...LOL....Do you by any chance need a salesman here in the USA?>...I beleive you have the "Golden Egg" of sites for learning how to solo, use chords properly, and learning many styles of play, thank the Lord your leaning towards blues...the basis of all other styles. Im on the edge of my chair waiting for the next tidbit from you. Some people dont realize whats in front of them...tuning down a half step is neither here nor there..I have been playing rythym guitar...and barley passable at that for 12 years in several bands....this cource is taking me...in my head.....further than I have been able to go b4....tuning is just tuning guys....doesent matter if he was a half step down...same fingering for 440......it doent matter...get it?...focus on what you need...and let this great site grow and prosper... Good Grief…LOL…Makes me wonder if some of these guys ever went to other worthless sites and checked out their freebies….

The regular view is best for me…You gave more useful examples of soloing and how to do it..here in this short clip than CDs I have purchaced for …well Im not telling how much I paid…LOL….Do you by any chance need a salesman here in the USA?>…I beleive you have the "Golden Egg" of sites for learning how to solo, use chords properly, and learning many styles of play, thank the Lord your leaning towards blues…the basis of all other styles. Im on the edge of my chair waiting for the next tidbit from you.

Some people dont realize whats in front of them…tuning down a half step is neither here nor there..I have been playing rythym guitar…and barley passable at that for 12 years in several bands….this cource is taking me…in my head…..further than I have been able to go b4….tuning is just tuning guys….doesent matter if he was a half step down…same fingering for 440……it doent matter…get it?…focus on what you need…and let this great site grow and prosper…

]]> By: Marilyn http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4-57/#comment-65 Marilyn Sun, 08 Apr 2007 02:33:29 +0000 http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/blog/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4/57#comment-65 I like the first vid better; it’s a little easier to follow. I think the idea of a vid is great it works best hand in hand with the print lessons to make sense of what you’re reading with a visual. I also agree with you about not teaching songs, in Art School the hardest thing was to stop photographing like my instructors and find my own voice its the same with music find your own voice and your own style. I like the first vid better; it’s a little easier to follow. I think the idea of a vid is great it works best hand in hand with the print lessons to make sense of what you’re reading with a visual. I also agree with you about not teaching songs, in Art School the hardest thing was to stop photographing like my instructors and find my own voice its the same with music find your own voice and your own style.

]]> By: Sandra Trank http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4-57/#comment-64 Sandra Trank Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:49:16 +0000 http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/blog/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4/57#comment-64 I must submit my request for "Normal" as the "mirror" is confusing to me. I would not be able to follow your instructions as well. The mirror is for people used to learning from someone sitting across from them and it is backwards. I do know about that as I have played on worship teams and had to sometimes follow the lead guitarist and its possible but not as a learning tool for me. As I said, Normal works for me best. Thank you for allowing us to add our input. If you decide to go to mirror, please give the rest of us the option for normal so we won't have to drop out. I must submit my request for "Normal" as the "mirror" is confusing to me. I would not be able to follow your instructions as well. The mirror is for people used to learning from someone sitting across from them and it is backwards. I do know about that as I have played on worship teams and had to sometimes follow the lead guitarist and its possible but not as a learning tool for me. As I said, Normal works for me best. Thank you for allowing us to add our input. If you decide to go to mirror, please give the rest of us the option for normal so we won't have to drop out.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4-57/#comment-63 Jeff Wed, 04 Apr 2007 03:35:13 +0000 http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/blog/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4/57#comment-63 I like the first video. If you can do guitarist's point of view angle that would be helpful. Meaning a "birds eye view" seeing almost the top of the fingers. That might be helpful for beginners. I like the first video. If you can do guitarist's point of view angle that would be helpful. Meaning a "birds eye view" seeing almost the top of the fingers. That might be helpful for beginners.

]]> By: Baz R http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4-57/#comment-62 Baz R Tue, 03 Apr 2007 07:28:18 +0000 http://www.tortoiseguitar.com/blog/how-to-use-pentatonic-scale-patterns-1-3-4/57#comment-62 Normal view looks fine for me, I've become accustomed to that view now so the mirror doesn't really have any advantages. Still an excellent site JB, thankyou. Normal view looks fine for me, I've become accustomed to that view now so the mirror doesn't really have any advantages. Still an excellent site JB, thankyou.

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