| A very important, and sometimes overlooked scale is | | | | Pentatonic over C7, then pick the C pentatonic scale. |
| the subject of this article. This one is called the | | | | Remember that since it doesn't have the 7th, the |
| pentatonic scale. The word "penta" means five. This is | | | | same scale works for both major and dominant. Now, |
| a five note scale. If you take a major scale and use | | | | playing pentatonic over a Dorian is somewhat different. |
| the 1 2 3 5 and 6 of the chord, then you get the | | | | Here, you will play the pentatonic based on the 3rd |
| pentatonic scale. This scale is very useful because it | | | | note of the Dorian scale. For example: if I have a D-7 |
| doesn't contain a 4th or a 7th. | | | | the notes are D E F G A B C D. The 3rd note is F |
| The 4th can be problematic, and the 7th tends to | | | | natural. I will build my pentatonic on F, so the scale is F |
| define a chord like dominant 7th has a flat 7 and major | | | | G A C D. I would not want to build it based on the 1 of |
| has a regular 7. By using the pentatonic scale I avoid | | | | a Dorian but instead use the 3rd. Keep in mind that this |
| these issues. If you want to play pentatonic over a | | | | will be a lowered 3rd since dorian already has a |
| Major scale, just pick the pentatonic that shares the | | | | lowered third and lowered seventh compared to a |
| same name. | | | | major scale. |
| For C Major, use C pentatonic. If you want to use | | | | |