MODES OF THE MAJOR PENTATONIC SCALE

by Alistair Andrews

In this issue I would like to continue with the modes. As I mentioned in the
previous issue, this is a very important tool for creating interesting bass
lines and solos. There are modes for Major Scales, Minor Scales,
Pentatonic Scales, Blues Scale etc.

What is interesting about the Pentanonic Scale is that it you can find it in
Rock, Country, African Music, Asian Music, Jazz and many other styles.

Modes of the Pentatonic Scale

C·D·E·G·A·C
This collection of notes, played in this fashion, is a mode of the C major
Pentatonic scale. However, you don't necessarily have to play the notes
from C to C. You might have noticed that the pentatonic scale is derived
from the major scale. It has five notes. (Penta means five), therefore a
pentagon has five sides.
A closer look will reveal that the Pentatonic scale is a Major scale without a
fourth and a seventh.

You could play the scale from D to D. In this case, the notes to play are:
D·E·G·A·C·D
This scale is still comprised of notes from the C major scale, but it has a
different sound because we started on D instead of C. This scale is the
second mode of the C Pentatonic scale.
 5th Fret

You could also play them from E to E. In this case, the notes to play are:
E · G · A · C · D · E .This is the third mode of the scale.

7th Fret

You could also play them from G to G. In this case, the notes to play are:
G · A · C · D · E ·G. This is the Fourth mode of the scale.

If you play A to A It is also called the Minor Pentanonic Scale.

A · C · D · E ·G · A

5th Fret
The First Mode (C to C) can be used over the following chords:
Cmaj, Cmaj7, C6, Cmaj9, C6/9, C7, C9, C13 etc.

The Second Mode (D to D) can be used over the following chords:

Dmin, Dmin7, Dmin6, Dmin9, Dmin11, Dsus, D9, D11etc.

The Third Mode (E to E) can be used over the following chords:

Emin, Emin7, Emin9, Emin11, Eaug, Eaug7 etc.

The Fourth Mode (G to G) can be used over the following chords:

Gmaj, G7, G9, G11, G13, etc.

The Fifth Mode (A to A) can be used over the following chords:

Amin, Amin7, Amin9, Amin11, etc

This common scale is found in the opening bars of "My Girl" as performed
by the Temptations.

MY GIRL

Although I have done the modes over one octave only, it goes without say
that one has to know them over two octaves as well. If you use a six string
bass then three octaves will become a necessity.

It obviously has to be practiced in all the keys as well.

Remember that the modes are only one of the tools and it is
important to have as many “weapons” in your playing “arsenal” as
possible.

I wrote out the exercises in standard notation instead of TAB, because it is

important to read music. How else would I be able to write down the
rhythms of My Girl?

Till next time “Keep on GROOV’N!!”