PENTATONIC IDEAS FOR IMPROVISING

Pentatonic scales can be used in a huge variety of improvisation situations. They can be used
in blues, rock, metal, jazz, country, funk etc.
Listed below are some ideas to try.
MAJOR CHORDS

MINOR CHORDS

Use the minor pentatonic built from the

3rd, 6th and 7th degress of the chord.

Use the minor pentatonic built from the

root, 2nd and 5th degress of the chord.

CHORD

Min Pent Min Pent Min Pent

3rd
6th
7th

CHORD

Min Pent Min Pent Min Pent

Root
2nd
5th

Cmaj

Cmi7

Dbmaj

Bb

Dbmi7

Db

Eb

Ab

Dmaj

F#

B#

Dmi7

EA

Ebmaj

Ebmi7

Eb

Bb

Emaj

G#

C#

D#

Emi7

F#

Fmaj

Fmi7

Gbmaj

Bb

Eb

Gbmi7

Gb

Ab

Db

Gmaj

F#

Gmi7

Abmaj

Abmi7

Ab

Bb

Eb

Amaj

C#

F#

G#

Ami7

Bbmaj

Bbmi7

Bb

Bmaj

D#

G#

A#

Bmi7

C#

F#

DOMINANT 7th CHORDS

Use the minor pentatonic built from the
2nd, 5th and 6th degress of the chord.
CHORD

Min Pent Min Pent Min Pent

5th
6th
2nd

Lets say we have a blues progression in C.

Chords are: C7, F7 & G7 for basic blues. Listed
below each chord is the minor pentatonic scales
you can use against those chords. Its up to you
which ones you choose.

C7

I would suggest starting with the following:

Db7

Ab

Bb

Eb

Over C7 use Am

D7

Over F7 use Cm

Eb7

Bb

Over G7 use Dm or Em

E7

C#

F#

C7

F7

G7

F7

Gm

Cm

Dm

Gb7

Db

Eb

Ab

Am

Dm

Em

G7

Dm

Gm

Am

Ab7

Eb

Bb

A7

F#

Bb7

B7

F#

G#

C#

Work out your choices over the 4 blues tracks on

your practise CD. Write them down and have fun
practising them.

JBS GUITAR SCHOOL www.free-guitar-chords.com

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