Why is the minor pentatonic scale used in blues?

2.) The minor pentatonic scale has been used to create some of the most iconic riffs and guitar solos ever written. It has a distinctly bluesy sound that adds tension and power to your playing. It is for this reason that it remains such a popular scale with blues and rock guitarists.

Why does the minor pentatonic scale sound good?

Why does the Pentatonic Scale sound so good? The reason why the pentatonic scale sounds so good is because it has no semitones which means that there is no tension between the notes in the scale.

Why does minor pentatonic work over major chord?

Yes, you can play a minor scale over a major chord because every major scale has a relative minor and vice versa. C major is relative to A minor since both contain the same notes (C D E F G A B). The minor relative of a major scale is the 6th. The major relative of a minor scale is the 3rd.

What scale does blues music use?

pentatonic scale
The blues scale is a six-note progression that sounds right at home in blues, rock, and country music. This scale is essentially the pentatonic scale plus one chromatic note, often called the blue note.

What is the difference between pentatonic and blues scale?

, Professional guitarist and music tutor. The difference is that the blues scale has one extra note compared to the minor pentatonic scale. This extra note is known as the ‘b5’ and it creates extreme tension when played with emphasis over a major or minor chord of the same root.

Why is it called a minor pentatonic scale?

In “Breakdown” by Tom Petty, the primary chord in the progression is Am and the tonic note in the pentatonic scale riff is A, so you call it A minor pentatonic. The C major and A minor pentatonic scales consist of the very same notes and patterns. You see the same pentatonic notes and pattern in these diagrams.

What is so special about the pentatonic scale?

The pentatonic scale has a very distinct, pleasant sound that works great layered over many chords and other scales. As stated above, it contains the most commonly used pitches in many popular songs. Its lack of half-steps contribute to its distinct sound, as compared to a major or minor scale.

Why is pentatonic scale so ubiquitous?

Pentatonic scales are so popular because the pattern is very easy to remember and many beginners start with it. Also Pentatonic is very versatile and is used a LOT in Rock music. Peace. Pentatonic scales are so popular because the pattern is very easy to remember and many beginners start with it.

What is the difference between a minor pentatonic scale and a blues scale?

The “Blue Note” is the only difference between a minor pentatonic scale and the blues scale. The blue note is also known as a flat 5th. The 5th scale degree of an A minor scale is an E. We take that note and lower it by a half-step, making it our flat 5th.

Why is pentatonic scale so popular?

Is the blues scale major or minor?

However, most people agree that the blues scale is a variation on the major and minor pentatonic scales, and those pentatonic scales are derived from the major scale and the natural minor scale. We can connect all these scales with a little bit of music theory.

Is 12 Bar Blues major or minor?

The Structure of the Blues The easiest way to understand the form of the minor blues is in relation to the regular 12 bar blues. The 12 bar blues is constructed using the I, IV and V chords in any given key. And these chords are typically played as dominant 7th chords.

What are the major blues scales?

The major blues scale is C, D, D♯/E♭, E, G, A and the minor is C, E♭, F, F♯/G♭, G, B♭. The latter is the hexatonic scale (top). An essentially nine-note blues scale is defined by Benward and Saker as a chromatic variation of the major scale featuring a flat third and seventh degrees (in effect substitutions from Dorian mode ) which, “alternating with the normal third and seventh scale degrees are used to create the blues inflection.

What are the notes in blues scale?

Tonic note = C

What makes blues scale?

The blues scale is a hexatonic scale with minor pentatonic scale. But because blues notes (or blue notes) have a different form, there can be no one blues scale. As named in contemporary jazz theory, its use is based on the key and not the chord, unlike some chords in jazz.

What is the blues scale on guitar?

Blues scale for guitar. The blues scale is similar to the minor pentatonic scale, but with an additional lowered fifth. The lowered fifth, also known as the “blue note”, is essential in blues music.