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Lesson 5:
E Minor Pentatonic and Blues Scales
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Now we'll take a look at the E minor pentatonic and E blues scales that are used for soloing over
the blues in E. Since the key of E has been tremendously popular for country and electric blues
and rock 'n' roll, these scales can be heard in thousands recordings of classic solos.
E Minor Pentatonic and E Blues Scales
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To play the E minor pentatonic scale full range in the open position, practice it from the low root
(or tonic) on the low E string, to the high note (the note G; 3rd fret, high E string), and then play
back down the scale to the low root.
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Example 1
This phrase is mostly triplets; it is played on the top four strings, and starts on the open B string.
Note the slide on beat 4 of measure 1 from the note A (2nd fret) to the note Bb (3rd fret). Also
note the trill at the end, which sounds as the note E. It's played as a series of very quick hammerons and pull-offs between the open D string and the E on the 2nd fret.
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Example 2
This low-end blues lick starts on the low E string. Refer to the video to help get the feel of the
timing for the sixteenth note triplet, which is played on the "& of 2" in bar 1.
Experiment with the phrases above; change the notes and rhythms around, and try creating some
of your own blues licks. When you discover a new sound or a combination of notes that you like,
keep working to develop the phrase. If you're interested in developing your soloing chops, one of
your goals should be to learn and assimilate new phrases, and incorporate them into your soloing
vocabulary.
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Lesson description
Learn how to solo over the blues in E on your guitar. Berklee College of
Music faculty member Mike Williams teaches you the E minor pentatonic and
E blues scales--scales that can be heard in thousands of classic solos.
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Lesson 5:
E Minor Pentatonic and Blues Scales
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Now we'll take a look at the E minor pentatonic and E blues scales that are used for soloing over
the blues in E. Since the key of E has been tremendously popular for country and electric blues
and rock 'n' roll, these scales can be heard in thousands recordings of classic solos.
E Minor Pentatonic and E Blues Scales
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To play the E minor pentatonic scale full range in the open position, practice it from the low root
(or tonic) on the low E string, to the high note (the note G; 3rd fret, high E string), and then play
back down the scale to the low root.
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Example 1
This phrase is mostly triplets; it is played on the top four strings, and starts on the open B string.
Note the slide on beat 4 of measure 1 from the note A (2nd fret) to the note Bb (3rd fret). Also
note the trill at the end, which sounds as the note E. It's played as a series of very quick hammerons and pull-offs between the open D string and the E on the 2nd fret.
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Example 2
This low-end blues lick starts on the low E string. Refer to the video to help get the feel of the
timing for the sixteenth note triplet, which is played on the "& of 2" in bar 1.
Experiment with the phrases above; change the notes and rhythms around, and try creating some
of your own blues licks. When you discover a new sound or a combination of notes that you like,
keep working to develop the phrase. If you're interested in developing your soloing chops, one of
your goals should be to learn and assimilate new phrases, and incorporate them into your soloing
vocabulary.
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Berklee Shares: minor pentatonic scales and minor blues scales - guitar scale
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Explore minor pentatonic scale fingerings for guitar with Berklee College of
Music faculty member Larry Baione.
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Lesson 4:
Minor Pentatonic Scales and
Minor Blues Scales
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In lesson 2, you got an introduction to major pentatonic scales. Pentatonic scales are five-note
scales. The major pentatonic scales consist of scale degrees 1,2,3,5, and 6 of the major scale.
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Minor pentatonic scales are five-note scales that consist of 1, flat (lowered) 3, 4, 5, flat (lowered)
7. There is no scale degree 2 or 6. Notice that, as with major, these are the scale steps that are
the half steps.
Anytime you see minor (and hear minor), a lowered 3 is used. Major has a natural 3 and minor
has a lowered 3.
Lets create an A minor pentatonic scale, starting from an A major scale.
The third of the A major scale in C#. The flat third is C natural.
To transform the A major scale into an A minor pentatonic, we first lower the 3 and the 7, then
we use the formula for a minor pentatonic scale, and play only those notes: 1, b3, 4, 5, b7. Scale
degree 4 in an A major scale is D. The 5 is E and the lowered-7 is G natural (from G#).
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Here is the A minor pentatonic in the fifth position. The root is on the sixth string played by the
first finger.
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Minor pentatonic scales are very useful to beginning improvisersactually, to all improvisers. The
magic of the minor pentatonic scale is that nearly any series or combinations of notes sound
musically pleasing, and that gives the improviser great flexibility.
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The special quality of the minor pentatonic scale is that nearly any series or combination of its
notes sound musically pleasing when played against a variety of chords. The pentatonic scale is
helpful for improvising, and soloing in many styles of music, including jazz, blues, and rock. The
pentatonic scale represents a great way to get started improvising, because it is easy to hear and
play. When I use this pentatonic fingering in improvising, I usually do not play from the root on
the sixth string. I think of the root from the fourth string (played with the third finger). How you
use the minor pentatonic scale is up to you, the main thing is to use the scale musically.
Since we know that the root is on the sixth string, played by the first finger (or the fourth string,
played by the third finger), move around the fingerboard and play some more minor pentatonic
scales.
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Find G minor pentatonic:
Bb minor pentatonic:
C minor pentatonic:
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Note:
To sharp a note, play one fret higher than the original note. To
flat a note, play one fret lower than the original note. When a
note with a sharp is flatted, the note becomes natural. When a
natural note is flatted, the note becomes a flat. When a flat note
is flatted, the note becomes a double-flat.
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Berkleemusic - Guitar Scales 101 - major, minor, pentatonic, and blues guitar scales
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Construct and play two-octave major scales in all keys, in two different
fretboard positions.
Construct and play pentatonic, blues, Dorian, and Mixolydian scales in most
keys.
Effectively use these scales in your own playing.
Develop good guitar technique through scale exercises.
Prerequisites
Guitarists should have at least one year of playing experience and the ability to play
some scales and chords on the guitar. Guitar tablature and some chord blocks, in
addition to traditional notation, will be used throughout the course.
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