The minor pentatonic scale, often referred to as the “Relative Minor Pentatonic Scale” is a scale that has only 5 scale tones in a natural minor scale: 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7. It is called the “Relative Minor Pentatonic Scale” as the notes in the scale can be played with a song in the major key as well as the relative minor key. This common scale is found in the opening bars of “My Girl” by The Temptations.
There is more to this scale than meets the eye (or ear?). The pentatonic scale is also the black keys on the piano. What is interesting is that most “Negro Spirituals” were written on the black keys only. Try it. Try and play “Amazing Grace” on the black keys, starting with C#. It’s fun.
I learned about the relationship of the pentatonic scale and spirituals by a parent of one of my students who sent me this link
Http://pjcockrell.wordpress.com/2007/11/22/amazing-grace-just-the-black-note
in which a man is giving a speech about the pentatonic scale and spirituals to a large gathering. He demonstrates this by playing numerous spirituals on the black keys.
What an interesting scale. A scale used by Eric Clapton and most lead guitar musicians, especially the blues musicians.
Anyone else have any thoughts or tidbits about the pentatonic scale? I would love you to share them with lyself as well as all of the readers from MTH,
The minor pentatonic is an amazing tool to help students understand the relationship between notes and chords. It can be used to improvise over the major chords the (I,IV,V) in any key and every note will “fit” without any sour notes. I use this scale for my guitar students both as a way to teach technique and to give them confidence to start soloing even after just a few lessons. After students have mastered this scale, additional notes can be added in to expand their options when improvising. Another great feature of the pentatonic for guitar players is that it can be played in 6 different positions on the neck, so it really helps students learn the notes on the guitar.
Last of all, there are so many great guitar solos recorded that are completely based on the pentatonic minor scale, so students can learn the scale and then try to mimic the solos. A great motivator and ear trainer.
Gerry:
As music teachers, we need to debunk the myth presented by the man in the video clip you refer to. It has permeated the internet and thus, too many minds. Please reflect on these 3 considerations:
First, consider the pentatonic scale. It can be played beginning on any note, black or white, on any instrument, and in addition to a West African tradition, it has a tradition in Celtic folk music, Hungarian folk music, Greece, Southern Albania; the tuning of the Ethiopian krar, Indonesian gamelan, Great Highland bagpipe, Philippine kulintang; melodies of Korea, Japan, China, India and Vietnam; the Afro-Caribbean tradition and Polish highlanders from the Tatra Mountains. It was not widely, nor is it considered the “slave scale.”
Second, consider Amazing Grace. John Newton did not write the music, just the words! The tune is “New Britain.” It was originally sung to a different tune and coupled with New Britain later. In addition, not all the verses to Amazing Grace were written by John Newton.
Third, consider John Newton. He did not give up slave trade upon his conversion, but continued for 32 years, writing Amazing Grace 8 years before giving up slave trade (see snopes.com).
My only intention is to help preserve the truth in history. I’m sure you want that as well.
I am glad someone has confirmed what I was thinking when I watched the video this morning.
I don’t play piano (when I was teachable, there were no portable keyboards, and b-flat clarinets seemed much easier to carry and afford), but I have been shown that many popular pieces could be punched out using the black keys, just as long it stayed in one chord and only used 5 out of 7 notes in the scale. I am not sure if I tried the Star Spangled Banner, but a lot of other (non-ethnic) tunes surely worked, once you figured out which black key to start out on.
Of course, mentioning such things on the internet, let alone in person, might get you branded anti-Christain, as well as pro-slavery, or at the very least racist, in these politically correct times.
But God bless you all for speaking the truth “out of season.”
Just another bit of information:
“HC” over at
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabitianyabwile/2010/05/22/the-black-keys-to-amazing-grace/
pointed out something that I nearly forgot.
Newton published the lyrics in 1779 without notes, as was the practice in the 18th Century. Singers or songleaders were allowed to choose whatever music with the same meter they wanted when they sang it.
By the time the familiar tune was permanently assigned to the hymn, Newton had probably already passed away.
here are my thoughts about the pentatonic scale:
http://bluesandrea.blogspot.com/
there’s also an interesting link at the end of the page.
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