Pentatonic Scales

bassist15 · #1 04-12-2006, 07:37 PM

CAn anyone give me a list of Pentatonic scales or give me a link to a site. I tried google and couldn't really find anythign satisfying. Ive just been having some bass line writers block so I was looking for something to help and I figured i should start playing tons of scales. I read that Jaco learned alot by just practiceing Pentatonic Scales over and over . Other than that can anyone suggest any other scales iI shoudl practice. OR any other advice for my recent writers block bass line wise

BassChuck · #2 04-12-2006, 08:02 PM

Have you gone through Pacman's sticky on scales? Its worth the time spent doing that.

Then check this out, it really tells you pretty much what you need.

http://www.teoria.com/reference/scales/12.htm

Correlli · #3 04-13-2006, 12:24 AM

A bit of trivia - black keys on the piano are pentatonic, and the white keys are diatonic.

Richard Lindsey · #4 04-13-2006, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwi Kid

and the white keys are diatonic.

No. Only in certain specified keys/scales/modes. The white keys are not diatonic in the key of A major, for example. The white keys are diatonic in the key of C major or the modes that share notes with C major, but not otherwise.

cowsgomoo · #5 04-13-2006, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwi Kid

A bit of trivia - black keys on the piano are pentatonic, and the white keys are diatonic.

to be honest that's a confusing piece of info to give to the original poster... my advice would be to ignore it

and to ignore this too: I always thought it was nifty that in a major key, the 'outside' notes were a minor pentatonic scale starting on the flattened 3rd... if you need to play a bunch of really atonal and probably inappropriate stuff just reach for those 5

steveb98 · #6 04-13-2006, 09:49 AM

Get a copy of The Bass Grimoire by Adam Kadmon and your scale questions will be answered for years and years to come.

FaithNoMan · #7 04-13-2006, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveb98

Get a copy of The Bass Grimoire by Adam Kadmon and your scale questions will be answered for years and years to come.

+1 - excellent book!

Richard Lindsey · #8 04-13-2006, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowsgomoo

to I always thought it was nifty that in a major key, the 'outside' notes were a minor pentatonic scale starting on the flattened 3rd

Or a major pentatonic on the flatted 5.

Correlli · #9 04-13-2006, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowsgomoo

to be honest that's a confusing piece of info to give to the original poster... my advice would be to ignore it

and to ignore this too: I always thought it was nifty that in a major key, the 'outside' notes were a minor pentatonic scale starting on the flattened 3rd... if you need to play a bunch of really atonal and probably inappropriate stuff just reach for those 5

And you come along and compound it. That's what I call team work.

Like I said - trivial. Just like your post

Correlli · #10 04-13-2006, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Lindsey

No. Only in certain specified keys/scales/modes. The white keys are not diatonic in the key of A major, for example. The white keys are diatonic in the key of C major or the modes that share notes with C major, but not otherwise.

The white keys are a "fixed position" C major scale, there-for diatonic.

If not diatonic, what are they then?

Chromatic?

Come on Rick, snap out of it...

cowsgomoo · #11 04-14-2006, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwi Kid

And you come along and compound it. That's what I call team work.

Like I said - trivial. Just like your post

yeah but at least I mark my useless info before I start

addylewis · #12 04-14-2006, 06:02 AM

Minor pentatonic = E G A B D E

Major pentatonic = G A B D E G

There ya go!

Richard Lindsey · #13 04-14-2006, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwi Kid

The white keys are a "fixed position" C major scale, there-for diatonic.

If not diatonic, what are they then?

Chromatic?

Come on Rick, snap out of it...

They are, as I said, diatonic in the key of C or the related modes but not otherwise. Fixed position has nothing to do with it.

Being diatonic is not an absolute quality that a series of notes possess. It is a relative quality that is possessed in relation to the tonality/modality that you're inhabiting. Diatonic means belonging to, or inside, the tonality that you're in. In other words, whether a series of notes is diatonic or chromatic is *situational*, not a matter of some inherent quality.

Thus, in the key of C, the series of notes CDEFGABC is diatonic. In the key of Gb, none of those notes, except F, are diatonic--they are all outside the key of Gb (again, except F--and I'll toss in B, as the enharmonic equivalent of Cb). I think you may be confusing diatonic with natural (as opposed to sharp or flat). Whether a given pitch is natural, sharp, or flat is an absolute quality; whether it is diatonic is situational.

steve66 · #14 04-14-2006, 06:51 AM

Major Pentatonic contains the R, 2, 3, 5, and 6 degrees of the major scale

|-0-|---|-0-|---|
|-0-|---|---|-X-|
|-0-|---|---|-0-|
|---|-X-|---|-0-|
5

Minor Pentatonic contains the R, -3, 4, 5, and -7 degrees of the minor scale.

|---|---|---|---|
|-0-|---|-X-|---|
|-0-|---|-0-|---|
|-X-|---|---|-0-|
5

steve66 · #15 04-14-2006, 06:53 AM

Check out http://www.wheatdesign.com/bassbook/
Its free and on line

EricF · #16 04-14-2006, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve66

Major Pentatonic contains the R, 2, 3, 5, and 6 degrees of the major scale

|-0-|---|-0-|---|
|-0-|---|---|-X-|
|-0-|---|---|-0-|
|---|-X-|---|-0-|
5

Minor Pentatonic contains the R, -3, 4, 5, and -7 degrees of the minor scale.

|---|---|---|---|
|-0-|---|-X-|---|
|-0-|---|-0-|---|
|-X-|---|---|-0-|
5

Ahhh. Finally a post that is informative, correct, and useful.