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Tell me if I’m on the right track.
If I am playing a solo, using no open strings, in lets say the key of “A” and I move the whole solo down ( towards the nut) two frets then I will be playing in the key of “G” or up two frets to be in the key of “B”, OK so far.
Now back in the original position of “A” and I move three frets down towards the nut, would I now be in A major?
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You got it. Wild isn’t it? I put together a video than explains this, check out the Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales Video. Download the jam track and try it out
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It’s just a matter of learning how to find the relative major key of the minor key you are playing in. For example, when you are playing in A minor at the 5th fret, the note on the 8th fret on the 6th string is C. C is the relative major key for the key of A minor. This is true when you are playing in the first position pentatonic scale anywhere on the neck.
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@BluesBird wrote:
It always amazes me that C maj pentatonic and A min pentatonic have exactly the same notes. The only difference is the way the notes are emphasized.
Bluesbird,
I’m going to give you a piece of advice that I wish someone had given me 40 years ago – take the time to learn some basic music theory. Is it absolutely necessary to playing Blues? No, it’s not, but it will flatten your learning curve. Plus, it’s intellectually satisfying and kind of fun to understand how music works. I’m discovering this now at age 62 and I’m kicking myself for not learning this when I was young.
The fact that you figured out on your own that Am and C Major are somehow related (something that I never did) indicates that you might enjoy learning some basic music theory. It will open your eyes and amaze you when you discover how systematic and logical music is. And you will discover WHY A min has the same notes as C major.
I recommend a book I bought a couple of months ago – “Edly’s Music Theory for Practical People”. Very easy to understand. I bought the Kindle version, but wish I had bought the old fashion paper edition because it has some workbook exercises in it. This is not a guitar theory book, it’s a general basic intro into music theory no matter what instrument you play.
That’s enough grandfatherly advice for today. (I’m going to be really embarrassed if I find out that you are older than me. 🙂
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Appreciate the advice Jack. I [strong]have[/strong] picked up a little theory over the 52 or so odd years I’ve been playing (won’t say how old I was when I started). Never hurts to learn more that’s for sure!
I think I know why these two relative scales (as well as the corresponding diatonic scales) have the same notes but I’d be interested to hear your explanation. What amazes me is not so much that they have the same notes, but that these notes can sound so differently depending on the key in which they are played.
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@BluesBird wrote:
Appreciate the advice Jack. I [strong]have[/strong] picked up a little theory over the 52 or so odd years I’ve been playing (won’t say how old I was when I started). Never hurts to learn more that’s for sure!
I think I know why these two relative scales (as well as the corresponding diatonic scales) have the same notes but I’d be interested to hear your explanation. What amazes me is not so much that they have the same notes, but that these notes can sound so different depending on the key in which they are played.
I knew I would step on my crank with my 1st post here. 🙂
When I read your post I was thinking about the “AHA! That explains it! Good god, this is so logical. Why didn’t I learn this stuff years ago,” feeling I got when I finally learned some music theory just a few months ago. I share your amazement in how infinite variations of music can come from only 12 notes.
Please accept my apology if I sounded condescending. That was not my intention. I had no idea I was talking to someone with your many years of experience.
I do, however, still recommend that book to anyone who wants to have a grasp of the basics. Knowing even a little music theory really does open up a whole new world.
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@Jack E Blue wrote:
Please accept my apology if I sounded condescending. That was not my intention. I had no idea I was talking to someone with your many years of experience.
Think nothing of it. This is a good forum and there is definitely a place for players who have a good working knowledge of theory. BTW it’s good forum etiquette to do your first post in the [strong]Introduce Yourself[/strong] section.
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