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A suggestion on the Blues Patterns – Major Too

Home › Forums › Active Melody Guitar Lessons › A suggestion on the Blues Patterns – Major Too

  • This topic has 10 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 2 days, 5 hours ago by Michael Krailo.
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    • November 11, 2012 at 3:04 am #4299
      Rickey
      Keymaster

        I like the Blues licks laid out by patterns in the Blues Lead Course.

        How about some video lessons that use those same patterns but in the Major Pentatonic scale.

        Some of the licks in the Major Pentatonic are cool too (ala BB King), especially when you mix them in with the tried a true minor licks.

        I am trying to do this myself (some) but would really enjoy a lesson or two.

        Thanks

      • November 11, 2012 at 4:15 am #8603
        fresnojohns
        Participant

          That sounds way cool too. After doing the regular Major and Minor a few years back, I have got fonder of the pentatonic scales. That could be a great lesson.

          fresnojohns

        • November 12, 2012 at 5:10 am #8606
          Brian
          Participant

            Yes, you’re totally right. I do need to switch gears and demonstrate major pentatonic scale as well. I didn’t want to confuse folks in the Blues Lead Course – wanted that to be the ground work and the plan is to create a part 2 that demonstrates the major pentatonic scale and then how those 2 work together.

          • November 12, 2012 at 1:28 pm #8610
            Rickey
            Keymaster

              @Brian wrote:

              Yes, you’re totally right. I do need to switch gears and demonstrate major pentatonic scale as well. I didn’t want to confuse folks in the Blues Lead Course – wanted that to be the ground work and the plan is to create a part 2 that demonstrates the major pentatonic scale and then how those 2 work together.

              Hi Brian,

              Well if and when you do you can count me in!. As much as we all love the minor pentatonic, for me mixing some major licks really open things up. Can’t wait, In the mean time I am hanging around the BB Box to get my feet wet.

              Doug

            • November 12, 2012 at 4:39 pm #8611
              Rickey
              Keymaster

                Now I’m confused. I thought if you wanted to play the major pentatonic scale you just slide up 3 frets from the minor pentatonic scale. I thought I saw this in Brian’s video on “Understanding Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales”.

                Could somebody explain this for me?

                Thanks,

                Tom

              • November 12, 2012 at 10:16 pm #8613
                Brian
                Participant

                  You’re correct Tom – essentially that’s it. I thought I could just elaborate on that in more detail w/ examples.. but in essence – it’s just sliding everything up 3 frets the way that you described

                • November 12, 2012 at 11:33 pm #8615
                  Rickey
                  Keymaster

                    Thanks for clearing that up Brian. I’ll be looking forward to part 2 of the blues course but I have
                    another 38 licks to learn first. 🙂

                  • November 14, 2012 at 3:55 am #8623
                    Rickey
                    Keymaster

                      @BluesLover45 wrote:

                      Now I’m confused. I thought if you wanted to play the major pentatonic scale you just slide up 3 frets from the minor pentatonic scale. I thought I saw this in Brian’s video on “Understanding Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales”.

                      Could somebody explain this for me?

                      Thanks,

                      Tom

                      Tom –

                      That is the Theory but I am thinking there are many standard Major licks that are right there within the Minor Patterns that easily mixed in without always having to move “3 frets up”, That is what I am looking for.

                      Freddy King used the Major stuff as I understand as did BB but certainly did not always stay there even within the same tune.

                      Doug

                    • November 14, 2012 at 3:51 pm #8633
                      Alan B
                      Participant

                        Tom, I hope I am not confusing you here but you can either slide up three frets and play the major pentatonic using the same scale shape as you did for the minor scale. OR you can play the minor pentatonic then play the major pentatonic shape two over the top without moving on the fretboard. You can then create maj/minor licks.

                      • November 19, 2012 at 1:14 am #8679
                        Alan B
                        Participant

                          Brian, I really hope you can put a Major Pentatonic course together, particularly if it’s as detailed as the current blues course (covering the five positions). I would buy it.

                        • April 21, 2026 at 8:27 am #413224
                          Michael Krailo
                          Participant
                            Rickey wrote:

                            Now I’m confused. I thought if you wanted to play the major pentatonic scale you just slide up 3 frets from the minor pentatonic scale. I thought I saw this in Brian’s video on “Understanding Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales”.

                            Could somebody explain this for me?

                            Thanks,

                            Tom

                            I hate to do this to such an old post, but it could confuse the heck out of someone if it is left un-corrected. If currently playing the MAJOR pentatonic scale pattern #1 with your pinky on the root note, then desire to switch to minor pentatonic using that same exact shape, just slide up three frets or position your index finger on the root note and that same exact pattern now functions as the minor pentatonic. So Ricky said it exactly backwards because if you want to play major from the existing minor, you would slide down three frets by locating your pinky on root note.

                            This was very clearly demonstrated in the referenced video now labeled LEG024 using E as the root note. Even though this is an older lesson, the backing track that goes with that lesson is quite good and a lot of fun to jam to.

                            Of course the more advance way to play major from minor pattern #1 is to play pattern #2 from virtually the same position. This is something Ricky probably eventually learned later after learning all five patterns and had his mind blown.

                            Go slow and practice correct technique, and your abilities will dramatically improve.

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