Pentatonic Possibilities: Major or Minor for Your Solo?

The pentatonic minor and major scales are really a thing of beauty. They work incredibly well as a lead-playing device in many different circumstances.

This video demonstrates several different chord progressions, keys, and tonalities, comparing the effects of pentatonic major versus minor in each. The results might be unexpected depending on your understanding of theory.

What You'll Learn

• When to use major pentatonic vs minor pentatonic
• How each scale sounds over various chord progressions
• Why the "rules" aren't always what you'd expect
• Practical examples in different keys and styles

Theory Note

When adding a ♭3 to a major chord (like we discuss in this video), it's best to refer to it as a #9. Chords and keys shouldn't mix thirds, but it's okay to have an augmented ninth or second as a color tone.