A Learning & Practice Routine to Blend Minor & Major Pentatonic Scales

Tips from the Official Guides / Approved Teachers
20

Thanks @Richard_close2u for the link, I’ll make that my starting point for tomorrow’s practice.

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21

Thank you Richard. This will tie in nicely with my Never Lost Pentatonic practice.

:sunglasses:

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22

+1 from me Richard. David, I envy your ability to look at this and say you look forward to learning it in the future. I look at it and my heart sinks! :woozy_face:

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23

@sairfingers Gordon … worry not and lift your heart. I have something in my back pocket that will be right up your street. :slight_smile:

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24

The joy of not having any expectations as to how much I learn and how “good” I get :rofl:

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25

I am lost a bit for words, just looking at it makes me nervous and envious. Nervous because I do not really understand it & envious because I do not really understand it.

Being just starting on grade 2 it`s like some sort of alien language. I might be able to understand it properly in about 10 years (possibly). Well done Richard for doing stuff that seems improbable, this is only one of a lot of “alien” things that you are really good at.

I doff my hat to you, well I would if I had a hat. :alien:

26

That’s a great key to making real, structured progress

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27

@bigbird Don’t sweat it Tony. If this is over your horizon, enjoy the waters you are currently sailing in. :slight_smile:

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The waters are ok @Richard_close2u, sometimes the wind does not always blow the sails. It is quite comfortable sailing in a slight breeze!

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29

@Richard_close2u Some fantastic work there Richard, so a very big +1 to you for it all.

Like Tony (Bigbird) has said, it’s all a little baffling. I’ve just got to the end of beginner grade 2 module 11. Is what you’re talking about something that is coming up in future courses, or should I try and start to see if I can get an understanding of it now?

Thanks. :slight_smile:

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30

@SgtColon
Thanks for the kind words Stefan.

Not really.
Justin absolutely will teach the minor pentatonic scale and, later the major pentatonic scale. He also has lessons on the care needed when using the major pentatonic in the blues which leads to a need to use minor and major judiciously in a 12-bar setting.
The ideas I present here are more to do with developing a facility to switch around from one to another seamlessly and at will but do not feature explicitly in Justin’s courses (yet).
:slight_smile:

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31

Thank you for that Richard.

I think I’ll see my beginner course 2 out and then I’ll have a look at this. :slight_smile:

So the improv I do at the moment, starting from from the C note on the 5th string, is that a pentatonic scale and if so it is a major or minor, or is it neither?

Thanks. :slight_smile:

32

That is the C major scale (a 7-note scale, not pentatonic). :slight_smile:

33

Thanks for that Richard. :slight_smile:

I’m sure one day I’ll understand all this. :smiley:

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34

Much appreciated Richard. Lots to move on with here. Will keep me busy for some considerable time.

Cheers, Shane

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35

Sticking with the down and dirty end for now and just spent and enjoyable 15 minutes experimenting with the first 12BB track. First on the 2 patterns Maj-min min-Maj bottom to top to bottom, then started mixing it up with a few strings at a time. Takes a bit of concentration but discovering a few “I know that!” moments. Great exercise for the brain for sure !

Thx Richard !
:sunglasses:

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36

@Richard_close2u you’re not planning on taking a sabbatical (or worse) are you? This looks suspiciously like give them a couple of years work to get on with and no one will notice I’m gone… :wink:
… and for those of us who have foolishly chosen to fly in the face of accepted wisdom, ignoring pentatonic scales and sticking to the diatonic ones (not even sure that’s the right term!), would these exercises work the same way?

@bigbird fear not- even by blindly tripping and stumbling over these terms and concepts, gradually when the time is right, pieces of the jigsaw will start to fall into place. I still don’t know modes, but I fear them no longer.

37

Haha, no, no, no.
My work is not yet anywhere near completion!
:wink:

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38

That is a very big step…I think even the biggest one…although it took a while before that penny dropped when I dared …but the English really didn’t help me,and i learned it without the videos unfortunately… every time i woke up i thought “now i get it”…in good sense down …guitar in place yet set…grrrrrom :grimacing:…But having said this…I’ve been enjoying the 5 patterns of the scales much more so far…
Greetings

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39

Really great information!! I have been mostly working on Minor pentatonic scales, memorizing them and trying to just pick a root note and work a scale from that point. I’ve also been learning the Major scales and SLOWLY getting those patterns under my fingers. Your article has really brought together both pentatonic scales like I’ve never seen before! Would you have this information in a easy to print format? I like to print out material to practice on, rather than use my laptop because I’m not going to lie I get easily distracted by other sites and email or alert popups! Thanks!