Minor
Pentatonic Chord Progressions The minor pentatonic chord scale
In the minor
pentatonic scale lesson we learned the tones/intervals that
make up the
scale and that it's a minor scale that will work over minor chords.
However, it also works over sequences
of chords (chord progressions).
In most cases, as long as the chords used in the progression lie within
the same diatonic key (more on this in a minute!), you can use the same
minor pentatonic scale across the entire progression.
First, we need to understand the theory behind what makes a chord
progression suitable for playing minor pentatonic...
Building
minor pentatonic chord progressions
In a minor
key context
The primary function of minor pentatonic is a more basic alternative
for other
minor scales. As the "rules" for minor pentatonic are exactly the same
as for natural minor, I recommend looking over the natural minor scale progressions
lesson for an overview of using minor pentatonic in minor key
progressions.
In a major
key and blues context
Unlike other minor scales, minor pentatonic is often used in a major
key context, such as in blues or rock and roll.
In a blues context, the chords used can be symbolised as IIVV
(1 4 5).
This means we're using three major chords, including a major tonic (I)
which defines the key of our chord progression.
Here's a video I uploaded to the YouTube
channel that introduces the essential I IV V concept on
guitar...
Now, if we're playing minor pentatonic over this sequence, the best way
to support its sound is to use dominant 7th chords on each
position...
I7 IV7 V7
Dominant 7th chords give this sequence more of a bluesy feel that
really brings out minor pentatonic's character.
For example, if the tonic chord was E7, this is the sequence we'd
have...
E7 A7 B7
E minor pentatonic would be our scale, even thought the tonic makes
this a major key progression! It's just one of those dissonances
(between the major and minor 3rd) that actually works well in this
context. Using dominant 7th chords softens the harshness of this
dissonance.
In the key of D major (and therefore D minor pentatonic would be our
scale), we'd have...
D7 G7 A7
Same sequence, different key. Get to know the sound of these chord
relationships and you'll know when minor pentatonic is an option for
your solo.
Of course, a typical progression might move between these chords in a
different way, such as...
I
/
IV
/ I
/ I /
IV
/ IV / I
/ I / V
/ IV / I / V
That's a typical rock and roll progression over which minor pentatonic
would typically be used (as well as extended blues scales).
So, in a nutshell, minor pentatonic works over minor key progressions
in exactly the same way natural minor does, but it also works over
those 3 chord I IV V major key blues progressions.
You should explore these relationships in your own time, but below is a
table showing you how I IV V minor pentatonic chord progressions would
change depending on which key you were in...
Key
I
IV V
A
A D E
B
B E F#
C
C F G
D
D G A
E
E A B
F
F Bb C
G
G C D
For the bigger picture on how to use scales over chord progressions, I
highly recommend the Guitar
Scale Mastery Course.
It'll really help you understand how to use scales through chord
changes fluidly and musically.
