1 THE MAJOR PENTATONIC SCALE •

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1 Toe Major Pentatonic scale is constructed of 3 whole steps and 2 intervals of a minor 3rd. The minor
l 3rds occur between steps 3 and 4 and steps 5 and 6.

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The Major Pentatonic scale is used with major family chords which have no alterations present. How-
1 ever, it may be constructed on notes other than the root of a chord to produce a number of harmonic
sonorities. Examples are given below to show several uses of the same Major Pentatonic scale. The scale
1 tones are analyzed in relation to each chord type.

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THE MINOR PENTATONIC SCALE • 1

. . nstructed of 3 whole steps an d two intervals

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Toe Minor Pentatomc scale ,s co d 4 and 5 of the scale.
,or 3rds occur between steps 1 and 2 an steps

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The Minor Pentatonic scale is used with minar family chords which have no alterations present. How-
fver, it_ may be constructe_d on notes other than the root of a chord to produce a number of harmonic
mnont,es. Examples are g1ven below to show several uses of the same Minar Pentatonic scale. The scale
i°nes are ana\yzed in re\ation to each chord type.
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THE BLUES SCALE

. . and 2 minor Jrds. Toe location of the

scale is constructed of 2 whole steps, 2 half steps,
The Blues . r 3rds is shown below.
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Toe Blues scale could be conceived as a Minar Pentatonic with the addition of a half step between
!ps 3 and 4. lt is commonly used with both minor and dominant family chords.

When used with an unaltered minar 7th chord, the 4th scale tone is dissonant to the harmony and has
:endency to resolve either up or down a half step to the 11 th or 5th of the chord.

When used with a dominant chord, the 3rd scale tone is dissonant and wants to move away. The 2nd
ale tone creates an augmented 9th in relation to the dominant harmony which, along with the lowered
h present in the scale, tends to give it the "bluesy" effect.

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. Toe Bluesthscale is often USed in conjunction with ali 3 or 4 chords of a simple blues progression. In
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case, onll( e blues •cale built on the tonic note of the key is used (that is• a B-flat Blues scale in the
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