This weeks lesson takes a look at performing substitutions with diatonic pentatonic scale ideas. This is an easy idea to work on that can produce a fresh new sound into any solo or melody line.
How This Works
For example, if we performed an,
A minor, chord (as a looped jam-track), and then we played the fifth degree,
E minor, pentatonic scale, (from the same key), we would get a really cool pentatonic scale substitution effect from performing that
E minor pentatonic scale under the
A minor loop recording.
We could get another cool sounding effect like this if we kept the
A minor chord as our jam-track loop and then performed a
D minor pentatonic scale over the
A minor chord. All the notes are in key and all will work. You just need to practice your feel and phrasing with the new pentatonic.
We could even take things a step further yet, and add a unique non-diatonic tone to the
A minor (as an extension) by keeping the
A minor chord as our jam-track loop but performing a
B minor pentatonic scale over the
A minor chord. This is introducing a
major 6th interval, (an
F# tone). We could highlight this further by changing the
A minor loop chord over to an
Am6 chord (this includes that
maj. 6 interval of
F#).
The possibilities are pretty far reaching with this pentatonic position method and practicing this can be a lot of fun to do when composing and improvising. Enjoy this weeks lesson!
The lesson video:
About the Author:
Andrew Wasson is a 1992 Graduate of Hollywood California's Guitar Institute of Technology (G.I.T.). He has operated his Canadian Music School; Creative Guitar Studio, for the last 20+ years teaching thousands of guitarists both in studio sessions, and through his popular YouTube Channels, Skype lessons and websites. www.andrewwasson.com