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Hi. I am on the final chapter of the Beginner Course doing a catch-up to 50 yrs. of non-activity. Brian demonstrates a movable scale across the 5th fret to 8th fret. Then he adds a couple notes to create the “blues scale.” I recognize the basic pattern and have always understood it as the minor pentatonic scale. But Brian does not refer to it as that. Am I wrong or is there a reason for not calling this pattern the pentatonic? Thanks. LD
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Hi Laurence,
The usual way to describe these scales is as follows:
minor pentatonic – 5 note scale, intervals R, 2,b3, 4, 5, b7
blues scale – 6 note scale, intervals R, 2, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7
natural minor scale – 7 note scale, intervals R, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7The minor pentatonic and “blues” scale are sometimes used interchangeably but the addition of the “blue” note or b5 is what differentiates them. Hope that clarifies.
John -
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Laurence,
I don’t want to leave you with the impression that these are rigidly discrete scales. You may notice that the minor pentatonic is derived from the natural minor scale, ie. the minor pentatonic fits within the natural minor. There are situations, like a i, iv, v minor chord progression where you could use any of these or mix and merge them together. You could add the major 2nd to the minor pentatonic, you could add the b5 to the natural minor scale. The b5 or “blue” note is not a note you would hang out on. It is used as a “passing tone”, ie. a note you would skip over to reach a more resolved or pleasing tone. Where you do hang on it a little, it adds tension, that you would, likewise, resolve.You will come across all these ideas as you go through Brian’s lessons.
John -
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