3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

1/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

2/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

nil
Subscribe
LoginRegister
CART
VIDEOS
APPS
NEWSLETTER

Reviews
Guitars
Amps
Effects
Acoustic
BassGear
Recording
Pickups&Accessories
GearAward2015
GearReviewInquiry
Gear
NewGearAnnouncements
RigRundowns
GearGalleries
ReviewDemos
DIYProjects
BuilderProfiles
FactoryTours
RigRundowns
RigRundownVideos
Artists
MusicNews
Guitarists
Bassists
RigRundowns
ForgottenHeroes
StudioLegends
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

3/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

AlbumReviews
Howto
Guitar&BassMods
PedalProjects
AmpDIY
GiggingAdvice
RecordingTips
GuitarShop101
AskAmpMan
ModGarage
Lessons
Blues
Rock
Shred
Country
Jazz
Acoustic
Concepts&Techniques
AllCategories...
PremierBlogs
LastCall
ToneTips
TheRecordingGuitarist
VintageVault
EsotericaElectrica
OnBass
StateoftheStomp
SeeAll...
Win
PGGiveaways
OtherGearGiveaways
Winners
Search

Go

Guitars
Bass
Amps
Pedals
Players

HomeFutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons
more...IntermediateLessonsSoundSamplesRockShredFutureRockTab

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons
NiliBrosh
November14,2015
2Comments
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

4/18

3/17/2016
1K

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar
1K

AA

Whensomeonementionspentatonicscales,itseasytojumptoconclusionsand
visualizetheubiquitousminorpentatonicscale.Butthinkaboutit:Pentaisthe
Greekprefixforthenumberfive,andinthiscasetoniccouldbeinterpretedas
note.Inotherwords,afivenotescale...andthatleavesuswithmanyalternatives
toinvestigate.

Chops:Intermediate
Theory:Intermediate
LessonOverview:
Learnthehistoryand
Theresagoodreasonguitaristsaremostfamiliarwiththeminorpentatonicscale:It formulabehindpentatonic
scales.
worksinmanydifferentminorkeysituations.Followingclosebehindtheminor
pentatonicinpopularityisitsrelativecounterpartthemajorpentatonicscale.Butif Understandhowtoimply
thebroaddefinitionofpentatonicsimplymeansfivenotescale,shouldnttherebe modalsoundswith
pentatonics.
someotheroptionshere?Ifincludingfivedifferentpitchesistheonlyruleweneed
Createfivenotescales
basedonMixolydian,
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons
5/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

toabideby,thenwecanexploremanyothertonalitieswiththisconcept.

basedonMixolydian,
Lydian,andLocrian
modes.

Forexample,onepossibilitywouldbetocreateapentatonicscaleforeachofthe
remainingfivemodes.Asweknow,therearesevennotesinamajorscale,aswellas
ineachofthemajorscalesmodes.Howwouldweknowwhichfivetochoosefrom Clickheretodownloada
inordertocreateagreatpentatonicscale?Well,thegoodnewsisthatweactually
printablePDFofthis
haveabitofflexibilitywiththis.Ineverymodethereareafewnotesthatare
lesson'snotation.
necessarytoincludetoestablishitssound,butafterthatwedstillhaveafewslots
leftforsomepersonalizedchoices.Soforstarterswhichnotesarenecessarytokeep?
Firstofall,itsagoodideatokeepthetonic.Thetonic,or1stscaledegree,isnecessaryforustoknowwhereour
homeis.Next,wemaywanttokeepthe3rddegree.Letslookatthemakeupofoursevenmodes:
Ionian(major):1234567
Dorian:12b3456b7
Phrygian:1b2b345b6b7
Lydian:123#4567
Mixolydian:123456b7
Aeolian(naturalminor):12b345b6b7
Locrian:1b2b34b5b6b7
Whenwelookatthesesevenmodes,wecanseethateachofthemcontainseitheranatural3orab3.Thismeans
thatsomeofthemwillworkinmajorsoundingsituations(natural3)andtheothersworkbestinminorsettings
(b3).Ifwereorganizethesemodesaccordingtowhethertheyliveinthemajororminorrealm,theylooklikethis:
Majorsoundingmodes:Ionian,Lydian,Mixolydian.
Minorsoundingmodes:Dorian,Aeolian,Phrygian,Locrian.
Sincethe3rddegreeofthemodedefinesthebroadtonalityofthescale(minorormajor),Idsayitsimportantto
includethatnoteinapentatonicscale.Furthermore,everymodehasonespecificcharacteristicnoteanotethat
definesitsparticularsoundanddifferentiatesitfromsimilarmodes.Forinstance,asseenbelow,thecharacteristic
noteinLydianisthe#4,becauseitistheonlynotethatdifferentiatesitfromtheIonianscale.Soletstakealookat
thecharacteristicnoteswithinthesevenmodes:
Ionian(major):4
Lydian:#4
Mixolydian:b7
Dorian:6
Aeolian(minor):b6
Phrygian:b2
Locrian:b5
Basedonthefactthattheroottellsuswhereourtoniccenteris,the3definesouroverallminorormajortonality,
andthecharacteristicnotedefinesourspecificmode.Sothesethreenoteswouldbebeneficialtoincludeinour
modalpentatonicscales.However,westillhaveroomfortwonotechoicesandtherearefourotherscaletonesto
choosefrom.Sohowdowedecideonthetworemainingones?Eachremainingnoteinthescalewillgiveusa
differentcolor,sowehaveavarietyofchoices.
Forexample,ifwewanttocreateaDorianpentatonic,wewouldstartwith1,b3,and6.InEx.1,Imgoingtoadd
2andb7fortheremainingnotes.Ichosetheb7becauseitsanadditionalnotethathelpsdescribethefactthatwe
areinaminortonality(itspartofaminor7chord),anditalsodifferentiatesbetweenDorianandmelodicminor
anotherscalethatcontainsbothab3andnatural6.Ichosethe2becauseIlikethetensionitcreates.Itsjust
enoughtobeanicecolor,butitsnotsotensethatyoucantstandthesoundwhensustainingit.Thiscreatesour
Dorianpentatonicscale(12b36b7).
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

6/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

ClickhereforEx.1
Whatisoneofthemostcommonsituationsinwhichguitaristsuseaminorpentatonic?Mostpeoplewouldargue
fortheblues.Allofthechordsinatypicalbluesprogressionaredominant7chords(135b7).Whenwelookat
thecontentofourfamiliar,gotominorpentatonic,wenoticethatitcontains1b345b7.Sohowcomesomany
peopleplaythisscaleovertheblues?Shouldnttheb3inthescaleplayedoveranatural3intheIchordcreatea
massiveclash?Heresthekicker:intheory,theb3andthe3clash.However,onepossibleexplanationforwhythis
worksisthatthisclashisinfactthesoundoftheblues.Itsthisclashthatoftencharacterizesthesoundweall
associatewithbluesguitar.
Thatsaid,itdoesntmeanthatplayingaminorpentatonicisouronlymelodicoptionoverdominant7chords.Since
theMixolydianscalecontainsallthechordtonesofadominant7chord,itseasytocreateapentatonicversionthat
worksgreat.Ex.2offersoneoptionforaMixolydianpentatonic(1345b7).Asyoucansee,thistimeI
includedthe5thdegree.ThereasonIdidsowastocreateaconnectionbetweenourfamiliarminorpentatonicscale
andthisparticularMixolydiancounterpart.Ifyounotice,theonlydifferencebetweenthesetwoscalesisthe3,and
thisdegreeispresentbecauseournewpentatonicscaleisbasedonadominant7arpeggioratherthanaminor7
arpeggio.
Inthisexample,Ionlyusedtheb3fromtheminorpentatonicscaleasapassingtonetothenatural3,andagainin
theverylastnoteofthesolo,toillustratethetypicalbluessound.Ialsoallowedmyselfthebluenote(orb5)asa
passingtone,asitisanotherblueshallmark.
Ofcourse,thisisonlyoneofthepossibilitieswehaveforaMixolydianpentatonic.Feelfreetomessaroundwith
otheroptions,suchas1236b7.Onceagainwehaveourroot,3,theMixocharacteristicb7,plustwoother
colornoteoptions.

ClickhereforEx.2
Ex.3exploresanewmode:Lydian.Onceagain,forthepurposeofincludingboththecharacteristicnoteaswellas
theentirearpeggioassociatedwiththisscale(major7),Ichose13#457.Anotheroptionwouldbetotakeour
familiarmajorpentatonic(12356)andreplacethe5withthe#4togiveitthatLydianflavor.Thatway,we
createsomethingthatissimilartothemajorpentatonicwereusedto,butthankstothereplacement,itscreams
veryspecificallythatwereinLydianinsteadofavaguemajorykindofsound.

ClickhereforEx.3
Ex.4takestheroadlesstraveledtheoftenoverlookedm7b5chord.Whilemostguitaristsdontencounterthe
Locrianmodeveryoften,wedosometimesseethem7b5chord.WearelikelytoseethischordactingastheIImin
aminorkeyprogression.Ivedefinitely,morethanonce,beeninthesituationwhereIencounterthatchordand
scratchmyheadastohowIcanbestplayoverit(otherthanusingLocrianortheparentscale).
Creatingapentatonicscaleoutofthismodehasalwaysbeenagreatsoundingandefficientsolutionforme.
SimilarlytoEx.2,wesimplyswapoutthe5inaminorpentatonicscaleforab5.Onceagain,thatnoteistheone
differencebetweentherootchordsassociatedwiththesetwoscales.Asinthepreviousexamples,wehavesome
flexibilityonnotechoices.Iwouldsayitsagoodideatokeepthearpeggiointhisone,butitcansoundreallygood
toreplacethat4witha2(ifyourejustplayingoverthem7b5chord)orab2ifyoureinatotalLocrianscenario
whichalmostneverhappens.

ClickhereforEx.4
Usingthesamelogic,wecandomorethanjustcreatedifferentpentatonicscalesforourmodes.Dontforgetthat
wecanalsocreatenewoptionsforourexistingminorandmajorpentatonicscales.Thecoolthingaboutstarting
withouroriginalmajororminorpentatonicscalesisthatyoucandecidewhetherornotyouwanttotiltthem
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

7/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

towardacertainmodality.Noticethatourtraditionalminorandmajorpentatonicscalesdontincludeanyofthe
characteristicmodalnotes.Thatisnotacoincidence!Thisisdonesowecanhaveastartingpalettewithwhichto
playoverabasictonality,andwecanlaterinsertthosetwomodalcharacteristicnotesbackintothescaleifwe
wanttospecifyacertainmode,ratherthanimplyit.Inotherwords,wecanhaveaneutral,vaguesoundifwed
like,oramorespecificmodalsoundifwedlike.
Ex.5presentsanalternativeideaforaminorpentatonicscale:12b35b7.Thisonechangesthe4toa2,soit
stilldoesntspecifyaparticularmode.ForsurewerenotinPhrygian,butwestilldontknowwhetherwerein
DorianorAeolian.Wecanchoosetobeineither,andsometimesitsnicetohaveoptions.

ClickhereforEx.5
Ex.6offersyetanotheroptionforaminorpentatonic.Thistime,wereaddingtheb6andthusspecifyingthatthe
minorsoundweregoingforisAeolian(naturalminor).NoticehowthebackingtrackisexactlythesameasEx.5,
tohelpillustratethetonaldifferencebetweenthisversionoftheminorpentatonicandthepreviousone.

ClickhereforEx.6
MostguitaristsIknowhavededicatedagoodportionoftheirtimetoplayingapentatonicscaleofsomekind.We
allknowatleastone,andweveallbeenthere.Ifiguresomenewoptionsmightbewelcometoboththosewho
lovetheminorpentatonicandarelookingtoexpandontheconcept,andthosewhomaybesickofitandare
searchingfornewideas.Someofus(myselfincluded)mayevenfinditshardtoconfineourselvestojustfive
notes,butitsabeautifulchallengetocreatesomethingmusicalwithjustafewtools.
2Comments
1K

1K

AA
SeeAlso

1. Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster

5. Ibanez Electric Guitars

2. Cheap Guitar Picks

6. Epiphone Wildkat Royale

3. 2016 Fender Custom Shop

7. Top Electric Guitar Brands

4. Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro

8. Convert Guitar To Midi

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

8/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

NiliBroshisaLosAngelesbasedguitarplayerknownforhersolowork,hertimeinTonyMacAlpinesband,and
herperformanceswithTheIronMaidens.Sherecentlyreleasedhersecondsoloalbum,AMatterofPerception.For
moreinformation,checkoutnilibrosh.com.

RecentArticlesbyNiliBrosh

FutureRock:IntervallicIntuition
FutureRock:SpeedingDowntheModalInterchangeHighway
FutureRock:PolymetricProgRockLicks
RelatedArticles

FutureRock:PolymetricProgRockLicks
FutureRock:SpeedingDowntheModalInterchangeHighway
FutureRock:PentatonicTransitions
FutureRock:PentatonicDerby
FutureRock:IntervallicIntuition
Login
Writeacomment

2Comments

Sort Subscribe RSS

michael.walton

120daysago

Greatarticle.
Iwonderhowtired,Ms.Broshis,ofthe"bestfemaleguitaristsever,orsheisagreat
guitarplayer,foragirl"articlesandcommentsshehearsandsees?

Reply Share
robert.carr

123daysago

Aninformative,wellwrittenandplayedlesson,thankssomuch.
Reply Share

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

9/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

Gallery

Latest

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

10/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

1.TheChainGang:ReaderPedalboards2016
2.GALLERY:HolyGrailofGretsch
3.NAMM2016:Editors'PicksDay4
4.GALLERY:NAMM2016Day4
5.NAMM2016:Editors'PicksDay3
RigRundowns

MostRecent
Rig Rundown - Kurt Vile & Th...

1.RigRundown:AllThemWitches
2.RigRundown:KurtVile&TheViolators
3.RigRundown:ChildrenofBodom
4.RigRundown:AndersOsborne
5.RigRundown:PeterFrampton
videos

Latest

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

11/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

1.RigRundown:AllThemWitches
2.TyysterPelti12StringReview
3.RigRundown:KurtVile&TheViolators
4.NAMM'16YamahaFG18050thAnniversaryDemo
5.NAMM'16WashburnHeritageSeries,ComfortSeries,and
WoodlineSeriesAcoustics

Getouremailnewsletter!
Submit
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

12/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

Everyone

Friends

Me

Recentuseractivityonwww.premierguitar.com:
Tom:
Commentedon:StaffPicks:Golden
Guitar|PremierGuitar
lessthananhourago
Tom:
Commentedon:StaffPicks:Golden
Guitar|PremierGuitar
lessthananhourago
enjay:
Commentedon:DIY:HowtoMic
YourAmpforStellarTone|Premier
Guit
3hoursago

SponsoredContent
MostRecent
MostRead

ResurrectingLesPaulsHistoricMid30sGibsonL7
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

13/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

CelebratingLesPaul:TheStoryofaJerseyCopsUnlikelyFriendship
withaLegend

DIY:HowtoRepairaWetPedal

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

14/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

CarlosSantana,WarrenHaynes,DerekTrucks&PaulReedSmithon
Their6StringRoots

CarlosSantana,WarrenHaynes,DerekTrucks&PaulReedSmithon
Their6StringRoots

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

15/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

DIY:HowtoRepairaWetPedal

CelebratingLesPaul:TheStoryofaJerseyCopsUnlikelyFriendship
withaLegend

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

16/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

ResurrectingLesPaulsHistoricMid30sGibsonL7

Read&Watch
Reviews
Gear
Artists
HowTo
Lessons
PremierBlogs
Videos
RSS
EmailNewsletters
Magazine
Subscribe
Renew
GiftSubscription
Apps
FreeDigitalSubscription
CurrentIssue
BackIssues
CustomerService
AboutUs
Overview
Advertise
Contributors
Contact
GearReviewInquiry
YourAccount
LogIn
SignUp
MyProfile
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

17/18

3/17/2016

FutureRock:ExpandingYourPentatonicHorizons|PremierGuitar

StayConnected

Signupforouremailnewsletters!
Submit

GetthePGApps

Copyright2016.AllRightsReservedPrivacyPolicy|TermsOfUse.Design,CMS,Hosting&Web
Development::ePublishing
OnPremierGuitar.com,"SponsoredContent"referstoarticles,videos,oraudiorecordingsthatareproducedor
curatedbyanadvertiserbutthatPremierGuitarishappytosharealongsideourowneditorialcontentduetothe
SponsoredContentseducational,musical,orentertainmentvalue.SponsoredContentisclearlylabeledeverywhere
itappears,andPremierGuitar'seditorialdepartmenthasnoinvolvementinitscreation.

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23364futurerockexpandingyourpentatonichorizons

18/18