The first scales most guitar players learn are pentatonic scales, especially rock players. However, the context they are usually used in as such is where the pentatonic scale being played is the same as the key center or root note it's being played over (for example, E minor pent over an E minor chord). However, this is only one pentatonic scale that can diatonically (I.E. in key) work over such a chord or tonal center.

This "lesson" deals with using pentatonic scales over alternate key centers/root notes/chords and in alternate ways. Further, the examples will be dealing with two things at once: chords and playing pentatonic scales over them. In other words, such examples will inherently involve two separate parts, and as such the best way to practise them is by using some kind of looping device or by making backing tracks for yourself.

Pulling Pentatonics Out Of Scales and Tonal Centers

Let's start on the premise of the guitar-friendly Key of E minor. For referance purposes, the notes of the key of E minor are: E F# G A B C D. What pentatonic scales can be found in this key? The most obvious and predictable one is E minor pentatonic (E G A B D). However, there are two other minor pentatonic scales that can be picked out. One also can also find B minor pentatonic (B D E F# A) and A minor pentatonic (A C D E G).

Now, let's use the premise of an E minor or E minor7 chord that you have to play a line over. The point is that you can also play the B or A minor pentatonic scales over it, for a more "outside" sound, although it's perfectly diatonic. The sound of the A minor pent over E might be a bit odd, but the sound of B minor over it sounds quite natural.

Let's keep our premise of an E minor chord to play over, but leave the tonality of natural minor. Afterall, there are two other minor modes: dorian and phrygian. The notes of the E dorian mode are: E F# G A B C# D. What pentatonic scales can be found in this mode? Once again, we find E minor pentatonic (E G A B D). However, once again there are two other pentatonics that work over it. We find B minor pentatonic (B D E F# A) again, but this time we find F# minor pentatonic (F# A B C# E).

Now, let's move on to E phrygian, still being used over an E minor or E minor7 chord. The notes of the E phrygian mode are: E F G A B C D. What pentatonic scales can be found in this mode? As usual, we find E minor pentonic. The two other minor pentatonic scales we find is D minor pentatonic (D F G A C) and A minor pentatonic (A C D E G).

So, over an E minor7 chord, mixing the Aeolian (natural minor), Dorian and Phrygian modes together, we have a total of 5 pentatonic scales. In other words, all five of the following pentatonic scales "work" over an E minor chord: E minor pent, F# minor pent, A minor pent, B minor pent and D minor pent.

The exact same method applies to major tonalities. Let's change our premise to an E major or E major7 chord. First, let's use the common major (ionian) scale: E F# G# A B C# D#. How many major pentatonic scales can be found in this? Once again, there are three. E major pent (E F# G# B C#), B major pent (B C# D# F# G#) and A major pent (A B C# E F#).

Of course, there are two other major modes: Lydian and Mixolydian. The notes of the E Lydian mode are: E F# G# A# B C# D#. Once again, we find E major pentatonic. We also find B major pent, and, my favorite sound in the world over an E root note, F# major pent (F# G# A# C# D#). Moving on to Mixolydian, the notes of E Mixolydian are: E F# G# A B C# D. Besides the obvious E major pentatonic, we also find A major pent and D major pent (D E F# A B).

So, over an E major chord, mixing the Ionian (major), Lydian and Mixolydian modes together, we have a total of 5 pentatonic scales. In other words, all five of the following pentatonic scales "work" over an E major chord: E major pent, F# major pent, A major pent, B major pent and D major pent.

When one mixes all of the tonalities together, simply using E is our root note, we have a total of 10 pentatonics that work over the exact same root note. In short, the answer to the question, "how many pentatonic scales work over that note?" is 10. Thus, if one was playing over a "drone" of E, one could manage to fit all of those different sounds over it. Whenever a bassist hits an E, one could musically fit all of those different pentatonics over it.

A note for making things tasteful: All of these pentatonic scales can be subsituted with blues scales (merely by adding that one extra note in between), and this lesson works just the same.