Hi all ,

I know there are 5 shapes of minor pentatonic scale
But what about major pentatonic, i look thru all the sources
It shows the same as the minor pentatonic

Let say the key of the song is in c major
Does c major and minor pentatonic shapes share the same function ?

Enlighten me

1. there are no shapes

2. penta is just a scale with 5 notes, its nothing special

3. if you can learn a penta learn a full major/minor scale

most songs dont restrict itself to pure penta, so its best you learn the full range

actually there are shapes la.
for shredding purposes

u want to make a solo out of it izzit?

If planning to do minor scale over major scale u need to find the relative note for it.

If guitar, not sure other music instruments, if u hit C, go 3 fret up, u get A. so minor scale for C major=A minor and so on.

As for the patterns/shapes, get to know 7 note major/minor scale, then u'll get the idea which 2 note do pentatonic scale skip.

pentatonic scale = do re mi so la
basically a pentatonic scale is "pentatonic", no major or minor pentatonic as for my knowledge.

I.e :
do = C
pentatonic scale = C D E G A

do = A
scale = A B C# E F#

Chords can be formed with pentatonic scale :
1. Do re mi
2. Re mi so
3. Mi so do (major chord)
4. So la do
5. La do re

Hope it helps!

Back on LWN after a looong break. OP, I agree with the other comments but to help you out there is a simple trick between switching from the fretboard "pattern" from minor-major.

Let's say the song is in A major. You only know the pentatonic minor scale cause you've only practiced that. Playing the minor pentatonic shape won't sound right so how do you convert that into a shape that is suitable for the major key ?

First, find the root note ( A note, on E string will be fret no 5 or fret no 17). Move up 3 steps (fret 2 or 14) and play in your usual pentatonic minor shape. You're now playing in pentatonic suitable for the major key or a "pentatonic major". The 5 "shapes" of the pentatonic minor and the 5 "shapes" of the pentatonic major has overlaps .. moving up by three frets will allow you to play in a pentatonic scale suitable for the major scale and the reverse works as well.

Do note that since the root note is placed differently now the feel will be a little different .. try to think in terms of tension-release when you're playing so that you end the scale run a note that doesn't have too much tension (e.g: root note or the third). Just play around and you'll see what I mean.

Ideally learn the full major/minor scale as it would give you more flexibility but yeah this works well for fills or solos.

This post has been edited by warlock80: Jun 10 2015, 11:50 AM