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Originally Posted by H2ODog  So i'm learnig the pentatonic scale in different positions on the neck. I now know the positions but how do you implement it to a song? As an example, if i'm trying to play with a song in the key of "A" i can play the pentatonic starting on the E string 5th fret but when the song changes chords say to "D" what do you do to stay within the proper notes? |
I am just learning about scales as well but I will try to explain how I do it. For the explanation, I'm assuming this is major pentatonic.
To play through that key change, you have to think of the various note function numbers, or scale tones, in relation to D instead of A. For example A is "1" when playing in the key of A and B is 2, etc . When in the key of D, D is 1 and E is 2, etc. You could keep playing in the same area of the neck when the key changes, you just have to think of how the notes in that area relate to the new key, D in this case. For example, A functions as "1" in the key of A but it functions as "5" in the key of D. So for that some 5th fret A on the E string, you have two different note functions, depending on what key you are in. In other words if you were playing that A when they key changed, that would be ok because its in both keys.
It's helpful to practice the scale in all keys, ie in this case, practice the scale in D in all positions and then you'll be able to see how the "boxes" on the neck for the key of A relate to the boxes for D. By boxes, I mean groupings of scale tones on the neck within a 4-5 fret range.
To practice the scale in D, start from the first note in the scale you come across on the lowest string. For 4 string, the E string.
In the case of D pentatonic, open E would be the first note you come across in the scale and it would be the 2nd note of that scale, or "2". So from that open
E, go to
F#(2nd fret E str),
A(open),
B(2nd A str),
D (open),
E (2nd D str),
F#(4th D str),
A (2nd G str), and
B (4th G str). This progression would scale-tone wise equate to
2, 3, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 . That would be your first "box", or grouping of notes for D maj pentatonic.
Now you would look for the next scale tone up in D maj pent. on the E string, which would be F# or "3". This would be on the 2nd fret E string. Starting from here (3rd scale tone), you would play the scale, starting from 3561235, etc. moving up the strings from lowest to highest, not stretching more than 5 frets on any one string or playing more than 2-3 notes per string. For example, for this F# box, you would play
F# as 2nd fret E string , then
A as 5th fret E string, then
B as 2nd fret A string, then
D as 5th fret A string, then on to the D and G strings for the remainder. After you run the scale from the 2nd fret E string you would run the scale starting from
A on the 5th fret E string, which would be the 5th scale tone, going 5612356, etc etc. Do this going all the way up the neck, starting from the E string notes that belong to the scale.
The trick to key changes is to keep going with the feel of the line you're playing so it doesn't sound like you're changing keys. Instead, you just adjust your mind and the scale "box" to correspond to the new key.
Hope this is not too confusing. I'm not that advanced myself so anyone else please correct me if I made any errors.
