Minor vs. major pent???

[john]

Could someone, in simple terms, outline when to use the minor pent vs. the major pent.  I know the 5 shapes of each but don't seem to know when to use one vs.the other. 

Thanks in advance.

 

John

[Charlie]

Penatonic scales are by far the most widely used throughout all genres for
improvisation, riffs, lead fills etc........

Typically the minor pentatonic ("blues scale") is used for blues, R&R, jazz,
R&B extensively and is played against a major chord progression.

The major pentatonic is typically used in country music.

Here is a pretty good site that discusses and illustrates forms of the
pentatonic scale major and minor.

1. http://www.jazclass.aust.com/scamip.htm

--
- Charlie

- Charlie's BLUES Songs - free BLUES mp3's
http://www.texasbluesman.net

- Charlie's MP3.com Artist's Page
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/539/charlies_blues_songs.html

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[Mark]

I agree with Charlie's answer but will also add that a minor pent can be used over either a major or minor key progression and sound good.  The minor pent used over a major prgression contains the "blue" notes (flat 3rd, flat 7th) that gives rock and blues music their distinct sound.  Major pents, OTOH generally work better only over major key progressions.  No rules against using it over a minor progression, but it would be a bit strange sounding.

 

FYI - did you know John, that the every major pent scale has a twin in its relative minor pent?  They use the exact same notes.  The relative minor for any key is the sixth scale note of its major scale.

 

Useful relative relationships of scales that share the same notes:

 

C major/A minor

G major/E minor

E major/C# minor

A major/F# minor

F major/D minor

D major/B minor

 

All these pairs contain EXACTLY the same notes - so fingerings can be "doubled up".  It allows you to know two useful sets of scale notes for each fingering.  You'll need to keep your ears alert though to the tonal root.  Be aware of where the root is within the fingering - depending on its major or relative minor context - so you can create melodies that "fit".

 

Good luck.

 

Mark

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