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Tobias
I've been trying to learn guitar now for about 4-5 months and i kind of slacked off when it came to the music theory, i kind of understand the major scale but the problem im having is with the pentatonic scale, the minor pentatonic scale and the major pentatonic scale. what makes these scales different? and what is the pattern that makes these scales different? (Also a good guitar music theory book recommendation would be helpful)
Answer
The term "pentatonic scale" refers to any 5 note scale. (pent = 5, tonic = tone/note... get it?)
The major pentatonic scale is simple the major scale with scale degrees 4 and 7 removed. You may notice that these two notes make up the only tritone found in the major scale. Well... that's kind of the point. No tritone means no tension.
You may also notice that this leaves notes 1 2 3 5 and 6, which are the 5 notes in common between the Ionian, Lydian, and Mixolydian modes. Pretty nifty right?
The minor pentatonic scale consists of notes 1 b3 4 5 and b7. This is the same as a natural minor scale without the 2 and b6 (again, the two notes that make a tritone). The minor pentatonic scale will work over any Dorian, Phrygian, or Aeolian stuff.
Just like there's a relative minor scale for every major scale (e.g. A minor and C major have the same 7 notes), there are relative major and minor pentatonic scales. C major pentatonic and A minor pentatonic have the same notes. Whether or not you're playing minor or major pentatonic isn't determined by the shape you're using. It's determined by the music you're playing.
Here's a nice article on the subject, I think it will answer most of your questions: http://guitar.about.com/od/specificlessons/ss/pentatonicscale.htm
If you're looking for a nice beginner's music theory book, check out Tom Kolb's "Music Theory For Guitarists". It's a great book that explains things as they apply to guitar.
The term "pentatonic scale" refers to any 5 note scale. (pent = 5, tonic = tone/note... get it?)
The major pentatonic scale is simple the major scale with scale degrees 4 and 7 removed. You may notice that these two notes make up the only tritone found in the major scale. Well... that's kind of the point. No tritone means no tension.
You may also notice that this leaves notes 1 2 3 5 and 6, which are the 5 notes in common between the Ionian, Lydian, and Mixolydian modes. Pretty nifty right?
The minor pentatonic scale consists of notes 1 b3 4 5 and b7. This is the same as a natural minor scale without the 2 and b6 (again, the two notes that make a tritone). The minor pentatonic scale will work over any Dorian, Phrygian, or Aeolian stuff.
Just like there's a relative minor scale for every major scale (e.g. A minor and C major have the same 7 notes), there are relative major and minor pentatonic scales. C major pentatonic and A minor pentatonic have the same notes. Whether or not you're playing minor or major pentatonic isn't determined by the shape you're using. It's determined by the music you're playing.
Here's a nice article on the subject, I think it will answer most of your questions: http://guitar.about.com/od/specificlessons/ss/pentatonicscale.htm
If you're looking for a nice beginner's music theory book, check out Tom Kolb's "Music Theory For Guitarists". It's a great book that explains things as they apply to guitar.
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