LESSON 2

The major pentatonic scale, some of its applications and how to manipulate it to use over different chord quality: Major, minor, dominant 7, half –diminished.

If you have a Decodamode Scale and Mode Decoder, use it to find the major pentatonic scale (colour coded in orange).

The major pentatonic scale is a 5 note scale derived from the Major scale.

1- This scale can be used: Over the major chords: C Maj, Cmaj7, Cmaj6/9, C Maj 13)

2- Over the relative minor of the major chord e.g.: The relative minor of C major is A minor
Try using the C major pentatonic scale over the A minor chord.

3- Over the dominant 7th chords (V7):

All you have to do is raise the last note of the Major pentatonic scale: In this case for C7:

4- Over half-diminished chords »
A major pentatonic scale with a flattened 3rd fits this type of chords

e.g.: A » “A minor” is the relative minor of C. So Take the C pentatonic major scale:

 

There are numerous sites giving free modal theory lessons and some excellent jazz theory books available. I have included a few, so check the links page.

CLICK HERE FOR ANIMATED DEMO