Home › Forums › Music Theory › How to USE the 5 pentatonic positions
- This topic has 8 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 8 months ago by John P.
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August 12, 2020 at 10:46 am #186694
I want to understand how the 5 positions are
Used. I have only seen Brian use one position mixing the Minor and the Major. -
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August 12, 2020 at 12:36 pm #186697
John,
You have some serious work to do.
Maybe start by noting where the major 3rd(s) are in you minor pentatonic boxes and where the minor 3rd(s) (which is actually the major pentatonic blue note) are in your major pentatonic boxes. The 3rd is the note that defines a major or minor scale. It takes quite a while, and a good understanding of chord shapes and intervals, to synthesize what you’re asking. It is often said that it might be better to learn how to make music in the box 1 & 2 region before trying to learn everything all at once. You could maybe try to mix the scales together in the B.B box, also. Between box 1 and 2 and the B.B box you can make a lot of music. Wish I had followed my hard earned advice.
John -
August 12, 2020 at 12:58 pm #186699
Not sure if I get your point, but EP130 is a good starting point when it comes to mixing major and minor pentas. The charts in that lesson are very useful, too.
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August 12, 2020 at 1:01 pm #186700
Whatever you do John, Don’t make it overly complicated or you will just confuse the heck out of yourself.
I found this website to be a fantastic help “..Yes, this one here..”..Billy..
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August 12, 2020 at 6:50 pm #186714
I guess what I’m trying to figure out is , do you use the D,C,A,and G shape the same way you would the most commonly used E shape. Or do you use those shapes more over the cord changes.
Yes I agree w Charjo, that using the B B box is super useful to making lots of music . I’m just trying to understand how these other shapes are used, or are they used in more advanced Playing like Jazz?-
August 12, 2020 at 8:03 pm #186717
Hey John, it seems like you are confusing the CAGED shapes with the pentatonic scale positions. You should forget about the CAGED system for now. But if you want to learn some licks that can be done in the various pentatonic positions, you need to go through the Blues Lead Course which is shown on the Lessons page of this website. Get a really good handle on those, then learn 20 or so of Brian’s lessons, and THEN you can delve into the CAGED system.
Sunjamr Steve
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August 12, 2020 at 9:56 pm #186725
Thank you , to everyone that gave some insight. I did go to lesson 130 and found it very good. I have also been studying the CAGED system. I have found it useful in finding cord choices up and down the neck.
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August 13, 2020 at 6:30 am #186750
John,
There is a minor chord CAGED system that corresponds to the 5 pentatonic positions but they’re not quite as easily seen as the major shapes. However, you may already know that the 5th string root A minor shape corresponds to position 4. I just watched a few lessons by another teacher who recommended learning the 5 positions along each individual string, in paired string sets, in every diad imaginable, in wide spaced triads and be aware of the note names and intervals you were playing! This whole exercise was meant to get you away from playing vertically within the boxes.
The work I was describing, is learning the major scale around the CAGED chord shapes and learning how those relate to modes. The myxolydian mode when you add in the minor 3rd is the same as mixing major and minor in all the positions. It’s a long journey.
John -
August 13, 2020 at 11:44 am #186765
Thank you Charjo, but I feel like the answer to my question is most people do just fine without Learning all five. Especially if your most interested in the Blues.
I might revisit this a few years from now. But for now I’m satisfied.
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