Understanding the Major Pentatonic

[David E]

I’m confused about how to go about learning the Major pentatonic. I’ve watched EP436 on the Pentatonics and how to connect them to the chords using CAGED. I understand the 3 minor shapes, but when it comes to the part when he mentions the Major scale I start to get confused. I understand the shifting down part but no idea on how to connect them to chord shapes. My understanding of CAGED is very basic. Looking for advice for a study path to help my understanding of of the Major pentatonic scale.

[charjo]

David,
It’s funny that as guitar players we all seem to learn the minor pentaonic first when everything is actually derived from the major scale.
There are seven positions of the major scale, one position for each note of the scale. 2 of the positions overlap to a large degree so we usually only think of 5 positions.
CAGED represents 5 different voicings of a given major chord. Each chord shape represents one of the positions of the major scale. That’s an important concept, ie wherever there’s a chord there is an associated scale.
The major pentatonic is a derivative of the major scale, you simply drop the 4th and 7th intervals.
The result is a major scale and derived major pentatonic position associated with each CAGED shape. The other interesting thing is that each CAGED shape is connected root to root to the next CAGED shape. That “octave pattern” is a key to navigating the fret board.
So, my suggested path is learn CAGED and relate it to the positions of the major scale.
The other fascinating thing is to start to see how triads and their inversions fit in and around each CAGED shape. Triads are probably the key to becoming an advanced player.
Brian did a series of CAGED lessons 556-560 where he looks a what is contained within each CAGED shape.
It’s a journey, none of it happens overnight but the bigger picture will start to come into focus.
John

[David E]

The dreaded CAGED 🙂 EP436 already put me on to EP273 (CAGED – A practical guide). Seemed a bit intimidating, but I guess it’s time to take a deeper dive. Thanks for the recommendation for the additional lessons. Maybe one day it I will have a lightbulb moment.

Thanks @charjo

[Michael Krailo]

The root note locations for each of the CAGED patters are the most important parts and define the actual chord to be played.

1. C Shape: Root notes on 5th and 2nd strings.
2. A Shape: Root notes on 5th and 3rd strings.
3. G Shape: Root notes on 6th, 3rd, and 1st strings.
4. E Shape: Root notes on 6th, 4th and 1st strings.
5. D Shape: Root notes on 4th and 2nd strings.

For overlapping major and minor pentatonic scales:

Major pentatonic pattern 4 Minor pentatonic pattern 3 C Shape 2nd string root
Major pentatonic pattern 5 Minor pentatonic pattern 4 A Shape 5th string root
Major pentatonic pattern 1 Minor pentatonic pattern 5 G Shape 3rd string root
Major pentatonic pattern 2 Minor pentatonic pattern 1 E Shape 1st string root
Major pentatonic pattern 3 Minor pentatonic pattern 2 D Shape 4th string root

From each of those root notes there are triads, scales, arpeggios.

Major scale is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The key feature of the scale is that 3 and 4 are always right next to each other as is 7 and 1.
Major pentatonic is 1 2 3 5 6 The key feature of this scale is no two notes are right next to each other (no 4 or 7).
Minor scale is 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 The key feature of this scale is 2 and b3 are always right next to each other as is 5 and b6.
Minor pentatonic is 1 b3 4 5 b7 The key feature of this scale is no two notes are right next to each other (no 2 or b6).
Major triad: 1 3 5
Minor triad: 1 b3 5
Major 7 arpeggio: 1 3 5 7
Dom 7 arpeggio: 1 3 5 b7

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

[David E]

@Michael Krailo – A lot to get my head around, but super helpful info.

[sunjamr]

I think it’s super important to actually get a feel for what the minor vs major pent scales sound like in songs. We all know what the minor pent sounds like in blues songs, where you have to cheat and switch that minor third to a major third as you land on it for the root chord. But how does it sound when you play a major pent over a song? One of the best examples I know of is the entire catalog of Allman Brothers songs. They were maybe the greatest masters of major pent happy blues.

Also, Brian has several lessons where he demonstrates how to switch between the major and minor pent within the same lick or song. Freddie King did that a lot, and Brian showcases it in EP050……if I remember correctly.

Sunjamr Steve

[David E]

I really need to train my ear. Thanks for the EP050 suggestion.

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