In contrast to the 3-chord blues, the pentatonic scale is not the first choice in Jazz when it comes to improvisation. Nevertheless, many musicians play the pentatonic scale, it is easy to learn, it almost always fits and it is therefore the tonal material that is most often used to start improvising. In addition to a beautiful accompaniment that you can improvise over, you will learn the 5 fingerings of the minor pentatonic scale. I will show you how to connect them in order to cover the entire fretboard. When working with the pentatonic scale, many important techniques are discussed: rolling technique when playing fourths, sliding into target notes, blue notes and much more. Learn the pentatonic scale as soon as possible, it is fun and worth every effort!
Level
Basic
Lessons
17 Lessons | min
Lesson 1Introduction
Duration: min
Let me introduce you to the topics covered in the course "Easy Pentatonic".
Lesson 2Solo 1
Duration: min
To get you started, here's an easy solo within the pentatonic scale.
Lesson 3Pentatonic guitar accompaniment (Am)
Duration: min
You can use this accompaniment as a jam track and of course learn it too!
Lesson 4First fingering and rolling technique
Duration: min
The rolling technique allows you to play two notes on the same fret on adjacent strings one after the other using just one finger so that there is neither a pause nor do the notes bleed into each other.
Lesson 5Slide into the target notes
Duration: min
When sliding into target notes, the note you slide into is crucial. The starting note can also be a wrong note, which just makes the whole thing more interesting.
Lesson 6Slide ornamentation of identical notes
Duration: min
This is a technique from the blues: identical notes are played using two techniques each. The guitar is particularly expressive because of such possibilities.
Lesson 7All five pentatonic fingerings
Duration: min
Get to know your fingerboard - with the help of the pentatonic scale!
Lesson 8Pentatonic - Solo 2
Duration: min
Here you can see the previously explained techniques in practical use. Your contribution: Practice!
Lesson 9Pentatonic in Em and Gm
Duration: min
Transposing into other keys is very easy, especially on the guitar. I'll show you how it's done here.
Lesson 10Blues in G major with the G minor pentatonic scale
Duration: min
Here you can play a jazz blues in G with the pentatonic scale. It sounds "bluesy" in the best sense of the word!
Lesson 11Blue notes
Duration: min
Here I reveal the secret of the blue notes. The Jazz theorist Joachim Ernst Behrendt has dealt with the theory of the blue notes in extremely long texts. We say: Just play them and enjoy the beautiful sound!
Lesson 12Blues in G major with blue notes
Duration: min
And now we'll start playing blue notes using the example of jazz blues!
Lesson 13Blues in A major with blue notes
Duration: min
Of course, this has to be done in at least one other key.
Lesson 14Blues in A major (easy)
Duration: min
Here we reduce the tonal material and the rhythm.
Lesson 15Blues in A major (easiest)
Duration: min
Here we reduce the tonal material and the rhythm again, but without loosing the meaning of the content. The quote at the beginning is taken from a well-known German children's song 😀
Lesson 16Pentatonic licks 1-4
Duration: min
For many people, licks are the fundamentals of improvisation. It's worth always having a few licks in your pocket. Practice the licks and transpose them to other keys by moving them on the fretboard.
Lesson 17Pentatonic licks 5-8
Duration: min
For many people, licks are the fundamentals of improvisation. It's worth always having a few licks in your pocket. Practice the licks and transpose them to other keys by moving them on the fretboard.
