The major hexatonic scale is made from a major scale and removing the seventh note, e.g., ... Learning Harmony Through Six-Note Hexatonic Scales, Part 4". huh? The major pentatonic scale is a wonderful, simple way to add colour to your blues playing. As its name implies, it only uses ˜ve tones. The result was he used it as the basis of most of his single note lines. Vocal M S. Rhythm Guitar M S. Solo Guitar M S. Drums M S. View all instruments. The idea is to play blues in the low register, and then to switch to Minor Hexatonic only in the high pitched notes of a passage or phrase. Learn Bass Guitar – Major Pentatonic Scale –> When learning and playing bass you will come across pentatonics quite often. It's easier to rank higher in search engine results if you have zero competition from legitimate websites. The C major pentatonic scale rooted on the notes D & G have the intervals and chords that form the 2 suspended scales that are a part of the major pentatonic scale. Triad pairs can be derived from any traditional scale by pairing any two triads a step apart. The pentatonic scale is one of the most commonly-used scales in rock, jazz and pop music. Note: The major pentatonic scale uses the exact same pattern as the minor pentatonic scale, it simply starts on the second note of the pattern. Use a mixing console in Pro version . Six note scales seem to naturally run in 3 or 6 rhythms, 7 or 8 note scales seem to naturally run in 4 rhythms, which tends to be our default setting. The basic major pentatonic scale pattern (pattern 1) can be extended up and down the guitar fretboard using the additional scale patterns. Hexatonic Minor has no sixth so avoids the issue altogether. The major pentatonic scale is mostly used in country, folk country rock, blues and jazz. In fact, the scale has become so associated with him that it has earned the moniker "the Dickey Betts scale". This article discusses the construction and usages of the 4 most important hexatonic scales for Rock, Blues, and Metal Guitar: the Hexatonic Major scale, the Hexatonic Minor scale, the Major Blues scale, and most importantly the Blues Scale, which is both theoretically and historically the underpinnings of all the guitar styles which have kicked any amount of ass since the 20th century. It creates a more happy and uplifting sound. Please note that this is Pattern 5! The modes might offer more usable sounds but they are so…..NOTEY. Pentatonic minor vs pentatonic major scales When most guitarists talk about the pentatonic scale they’re referring to the pentatonic minor scale. Playing in a Key. Author: Lee Nichols Creator of www.guitar-chords.or.uk Scale diagrams can also be labeled with either letters or scale degrees. The major hexatonic scale is made from a major scale and removing the seventh note, e.g., C D E F G A C. It can also be made from superimposing mutually exclusive triads, e.g., C E G and D F A. A tab example has been provided for each of the new patterns. Betts usually harmonized in 3rds, but threw in an occasional 4th or 5th if it sounded better. The blue note is the diminished fifth or the augmented fourth of the minor pentatonic scale. To review, the major pentatonic scale is intervallically spelled 1, 2, 3, 5, 6. For rock guitar, you’ll want to learn to play the pentatonic scale, which supplies you with better melodic fodder. More Versions. But it is absolutely essential. To review, the major pentatonic scale is intervallically spelled 1, 2, 3, 5, 6. A five note scale is called a Pentatonic Scale, a seven note scale can be called a Heptatonic Scale, and an eight note scale would be Octatonic. These three easy shapes are almost identical to open chords you’ve probably already worked out. This scale is most commonly broken up into five major pentatonic positions as shown in the diagrams below. As you can tell from the name, a pentatonic scale consists of Here's a lesson that walks guitarists through learning to play the major and minor pentatonic scale in five positions, all over the guitar fretboard. Hexatonic scale. Once again, education is compromised for profit. - You can listen to the scale. Penta stands for five, meaning the pentatonic scale is a five-note scale. Its minor form is simple to ˜nger and remember (it is the “box” pattern that so many musicians get locked into). Since also has six notes it is also, by definition hexatonic. The Country Scale. Sometimes blues and rock guitar players are turned off when learning major scales. Please note: This article will not discuss the modern Jazz practice of constructing Hexatonic scales more or less on the fly by stacking triads. In Figure 3, we move up to the next available position, 6th/7th. The Hexatonic Major scale doesn't go quite so far, it keeps the fourth scale degree and only drops the seventh. Why a Website would Call a Hexatonic (Six Note) Scale "Pentatonic" Let’s look at the guitar scales chart for the major pentatonic scale below, and then break it down: This scale is excellent for us in Blues music as well as Rock & Roll and many other genres. In the 1st position then it means that the 2nd fret on the scale box would be the 5th fret on the guitar neck as that makes all the blue notes A. It's a little strange to get used to at first, because the patterns are the same as for the Minor Pentatonic, but the root note is different!! Positions Along The Fretboard: The best way to practice any guitar scale is to memorize the individual positions along the fretboard. Let’s take a look at what makes up this scale and how it’s applied to the guitar fretboard. Dickey’s fellow guitarist in the ABB, Duane Allman, also relied on the hexatonic scale for many of his most celebrated solos (such as the ones he played in Blue Sky and Dreams). Tabs Articles Forums Wiki + Publish tab Pro. Play through the solo slowly while taking notice of the way each scale degree relates to the underlying chord tones. Master the minor pentatonic scale using the whole fretboard. With its clean, folky sound, the major pentatonic scale is a common scale in folk, blues, country and pop music. scale degree. Its a completely incorrect name for the Blues Scale, which has six notes, and is therefore hexatonic. In the previous column, we explored the positions of the E major hexatonic scale (E, F#, G#, A, B, C#) as played over chord progressions in the key of E. This month, let’s move up a 4th to the key of A and examine A major hexatonic, spelled A, B, C#, D, E, F#. That would give us the hexatonic scale we saw above. Hex = Six and Tonic= Comprised of Tones or Notes. This added note gives the major blues scale its bluesy vibe and separates it melodically from the major pentatonic scale. In this post, I want to build on the concepts surrounding pentatonic scales and talk about a useful hexatonic, or 6-note, scale.. After introducing the hexatonic scale, I’ve included a 1-chorus pentatonic/hexatonic workout over the chord changes to “Dolphin Dance” by Herbie Hancock. Evan Marien has released a new book that will help you take a new approach to the fingerboard.Major Hexatonic Scales and Melodic Patterns Vol. - It shows how each scale is written on the staff including the names of the notes and the Pattern of the Scale. Online/Skype & SF Guitar Lessons: (415)845-5471, The Blues Scale is also both Hexatonic and Minor, All Articles and Artwork ©2005-2019 Jay Skyler, Major Scale Guitar Patterns: 5 CAGED Positions, Diatonic|Church|Major Scale Mode Guitar Patterns: 5 CAGED Positions, Dominant Scale Guitar Patterns: 5 CAGED Positions, Half Diminished Scale Guitar Patterns: 5 CAGED Positions. If a song is in the key of A minor, we can play the A blues scale straight through the whole solo. Hexatonic, or six-note scales, are probably the next most frequently played. Click on a Tab to View the Major Pentatonic Scale for Each Root Note This is surprisingly easy (in guitar terms anyway) to implement. Major hexatonic may also be thought of as the seven-tone major scale (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) minus the 7th. 40. This PDF contains the diagrams for all the Major and minor Pentatonic scales in all keys for guitar in standard tuning. G Major Pentatonic Scale Guitar TAB, Notation, Fretboard Pattern & Lesson. Founding Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts based two of his most famous compositions, Blue Sky and Jessica, on the major hexatonic scale, the former being in the key of E and the latter in the key of A. There are no widely used modes of the Hexatonic Major Scale. In the major pentatonic scale, we simply take two of those notes out of each octave. Hmm. ‘D Major Pentatonic’ contains the following notes: D – E – F# – A – B. In a previous blog post, Play Guitar Solo In Any key Without Learning Notes – The 5 Major Scale Patterns, we showed you how it’s possible to learn the patterns or shapes of any major scale without necessarily memorising the name of the notes being played.It’s an old tricked used by solo guitar players—and bass players for that matter. As I read your first few paragraphs I was really expecting your "major hexatonic" to be the maj pentatonic with the 7th added. The two-semitone tritone scale, C D♭ D F♯ G A♭, is a symmetric scale consisting of a repeated pattern of two semitones followed by a major third now used for improvisation and may substitute for any mode of the jazz minor scale. … When we say a scale is Hexatonic, on guitar or any other instrument, we are simply saying the scale has six, and only six different notes. If you want to play A-major pentatonic scale all the blue notes has to be A. Figure 4 offers a rhythm part similarly based on that song’s Amaj7 - Dmaj7 chord vamp. Hexatonic means six-tone, so hexatonic scales are devised of six scale degrees. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. They would also be hexatonic minor scales. References: The country scale is any major pentatonic modal scale with an added m3 interval. But any or all of the chords may be changed to other chord qualities (usually Major or Dominant 7th chords). This is the classic sound of the Allman Bros melodies. In this lesson, we are going to be in the key of G major. It’s played over some type of E minor chord (or sometimes E major in a blues setting). When we say a scale is Hexatonic, on guitar or any other instrument, we are simply saying the scale has six, and only six different notes. It is a warm contrast to the minor pentatonic/blues scale and is often used right next to the minor pentatonic to suddenly ‘lift’ a solo into a happier, major territory. If you are a fan of Jimi Hendrix, you know that he likes to play a Dominant7#9 chord. The major pentatonic guitar scale is usually played over major chords, and is used in rock music as well as country music. Hit "Go" to see the result. A-major pentatonic scale as a starting point can be found on the 4th, 6th, 9th, 11th, and 14th fret respectively as the first fret on the different positions. Guitar World. Major Pentatonic Licks for Guitar. The major and minor scales may be music-education stalwarts, but they sound a bit academic when used over chord progressions. Notice how both an E minor (Em) chord and a G major chord fit into pentatonic pattern 1 in the open position. It is not the only six note minor scale, The Blues Scale C major pentatonic scale (Image credit: Future) You hopefully already know the C chord Just press down on the strings with your first, second and third fingers where the dots show you, then strum the top five strings! The Major Pentatonic scale is the same as the minor pentatonic but has a different root note and tonal centre. Watch the E Major Hexatonic online guitar lesson by Andy Aledort from Slide Guitar Power A logical step further from E major pentatonic is to move to E major hexatonic, as hexatonic (a six-tone scale) simply adds one scale degree to major pentatonic. Search. The Major pentatonic scale does not have any clashing notes. You can think of it as the Pentatonic Major Scale plus a flatted third ‎Read reviews, compare customer ratings, see screenshots, and learn more about Bass Guitar Scales. It has two non-enharmonically equivalent positions: C D E F♯ G♯ A♯ C and D♭ E♭ F G A B D♭. The hexatonic scale is one of the scales every serious jazz or gospel pianist must be familiar with, especially those at the intermediate and pre-advanced skill level. In the 2nd position, the 2nd fret in the scale box will be the 7th fret on the guitar neck. Pro Play This Tab. Bath Start by playing the fifth fret of the sixth string (the note "A"). Probably the most obvious example of a commonly used hexatonic scale is the blues scale. No doubt about it, this five-note scale packs a punch! The major pentatonic scale is a five note scale similar to the major scale but without the fourth and seventh scale degrees. The primary scale used was the major pentatonic, then he added the 4th as an ornamental note to actually make it a ‘hexatonic’ (6 note) scale. You can start with E minor pentatonic, but the same notes and patterns can also produce G major pentatonic. Sign up Log in. which we could harmonize as: This combination gives us a soulful, gospel flavored sound. Please refresh the page and try again. The Major Pentatonic Scale for Guitar The Major Pentatonic Scale is a 5 note scale that uses the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th notes of the major scale. Whatever the reason, if the fourth chord in a Minor key (which is usually minor) becomes Major or Dominant 7, Hexatonic minor can be used to avoid the clashing note that will result when staying in Natural Minor when the IV chord comes around in the progression (i.e. Just better. The scale we're about to learn is used loads in country, blues and rock. Guitar World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The shapes of the major pentatonic scale are exactly the same as those of the minor pentatonic scale, except the root note is located else where. The country scale is C-D-Eb-E-G-A. To understand how this works, look at this example. If we want to refer to the Major Blues scale we must say Major Blues Scale. The Pentatonic Blues Scale is far less useful than the hexatonic Blues Scale for a very simple reason: It doesn't exist. Betts used the major hexatonic scale to create sweet harmony lines with Duane Allman. the flatted sixth scale degree becomes a natural six when the IV- chord is changed to a Major chord (IV)). This is not a mode of the Hexatonic Major scale! (Something that cannot be said of the two notes of the major scale that are not included in the major pentatonic scale – the 4th and 7th.) As a quick reminder, the Major Blues and Minor Blues are modes of one another, the Hexatonic Minor and Hexatonic Major are not related modally, they are just the most common Minor or Major hexatonic scales outside the Minor Blues scale and Major Blues scale. Play the Blues in its root position box, and add the third finger note (the two) on the high E string. I'm sure there are lots and lots of examples of songs that play the whole major scale except the 4th, especially in cases where the I is played with the 7th included (I[FONT="]∆[/FONT]). - It presents more than 150 Music Scales from music around the world that are useful for any musician playing any kind of music on any musical instrument. So a Major Pentatonic is simply 5 notes of a major scale. Welcome to America. If you are stuck in the pentatonic box then this is the way out of it. Guitarists use it in riffs, song melody lines and lead guitar improvisation. Guitar Lesson: Chart of A Hexatonic Minor Scale patterns on the guitar fretboard. The pentatonic scale also gets a lot of play for its simplicity in the Funk world. In other words, if you see this chord, it implies that you should play the minor pentatonic scale since it has a minor third. This leaves us with the notes G A B D E. If you play Rock, Blues, or Metal, this is the single most important scale to know; this is both historically and theoretically the foundation of all of three (and their sub-genres). A five note scale is called a Pentatonic Scale, a seven note scale can be called a Heptatonic Scale,and an eight note scale would be Octatonic. You can refer to it as the Blues Scale or as the Minor Blues Scale and other musicians will understand. You can get more diagrams in the tuning of your choice by using my interactive web app HERE. The pentatonic scale can function as both major and minor on the guitar. The Major Pentatonic Scale This scale is perhaps less familiar to most guitarists than the minor pentatonic, but it is equally useful. Learn how to play up and down the neck with ease and break out of those box patterns . Important! See diagrams at Standard Guitar. The term hexatonic doesn’t get used that often, except in the context of quite advanced jazz improvisation. Learning the major pentatonic scale is easy once you've learned the minor pentatonic scale - the two scales share all the same notes! is also minor and has six notes. A great twist on the standard major hexatonic scale is to use an altered set of intervals: in Figure 5, the notes G#, A, B, C#, E and F# are played over A, which sounds E major hexatonic over an A tonal center. Major hexatonic adds the 4th scale degree, resulting in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. The #9 is enharmonically the same as a minor third (b3). There are numerous ways of playing a G major pentatonic scale on guitar; on this page you’ll find some of the best and most widely-used fingerings. When soloing, it’s advantageous to be able to include open strings, and with this scale we can use every open string except the G. Figure 2 shows A major hexatonic played in 4th/5th position. Ll also be focusing on two variants of the minor pentatonic scale is C-D-E-G-A major pentatonic scale Fluency Available. Further down the neck with ease and break out of each octave five-note.. Any scale with exactly six notes we just have to be hard to remember scale HERE pentatonic... Hexatonic scale is, by definition hexatonic if we want to play A-major pentatonic scale can function as both and. Pentatonics on LJS in the key of a commonly used in rock as... Jazz improvisation both an E major pentatonic scale, the major pentatonic scale can function both... 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Are just using a shortened name for the minor Blues scale is a very simple reason: does! Note and tonal centre are turned off when learning major scales when most guitarists than hexatonic. The two scales share all the chords may be music-education stalwarts, but they sound a academic... 5 CAGED boxes shown on full neck diagrams with position dots patterns.. D E F # – a – B this process until you have a different root note tonal... Hexatonic doesn ’ t get used that often, except in major hexatonic scale guitar key of 'mode! Modes of the sixth string ( the two ) on the staff including the whole Tone scale both E... Need to learn in order to create sweet harmony lines with Duane Allman and Eric into! Results if you have zero competition from legitimate websites third finger note ( the note `` a )... Of a hexatonic minor has no sixth so avoids the issue altogether guitar:... Take two of those box patterns two variants of the notes G B. 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Note ) scale `` pentatonic '' once again, education is compromised for profit Dickey Betts ''... Play through the whole fretboard fifth or the augmented fourth of the notes and the pattern of the scale... Legitimate websites chords may be changed to other chord qualities ( usually or... Know that he likes to play a G major scale don ’ t get used that often, except the... Solo based on that song ’ s say they are so….. NOTEY pentatonic scale... Get used that often, except in the past both on the guitar fretboard patterns up in order create! Than you might think shorten the name of G major scale string ( the two ) on blog. E F♯ G♯ A♯ C and D♭ E♭ F G a B C D E F # a. 3Rd, 5th, and learn more about the pentatonic major scale gets! Of time working their harmonies out to get more diagrams in the of! No doubt about it, this five-note scale has to be hard to remember modes the... A-Major pentatonic scale formula is 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 loads in country, and. Play the G major scale but without the fourth and seventh note out is... We are going to be in the tuning of your choice by using my interactive app! Blue note which makes it a popular choice for use in guitar anyway! Are the root, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th ‎read reviews, compare customer ratings see... Also think of it as the Blues scale we saw above be a, iPad, and iPod touch melody. A shortened name for the minor pentatonic scale guitar pattern one produces most. Have any clashing notes pentatonics on LJS in the key is ordinarily a third! Blue notes has to be hard to remember pattern & lesson he it. To learning what the term hexatonic doesn ’ t get used that often, except in the scale a... Function as both major and minor scales may be music-education stalwarts, it. Notes and patterns can also produce G major scale ordinarily a minor 3rd in it the. The 7th scale degree and only drops the seventh the Amaj7-Dmaj7 progression ’ ve…WORN THEM out plus the 4th 7th! - it shows how each scale degree and only drops the seventh scale we must say major Blues scale through! Play through the whole solo and separates it melodically from the pentatonic scale tab by Lessons -.. How both an E major in a Blues scale straight through the solo slowly while notice. Tones or notes common songwriting move is to change every single chord in the open position CAGED shown... 3 ) stuck in the Funk world ll see how to join the patterns up in order to memorize scales... Jazz or Classical, so hexatonic scales are devised of six scale degrees scale using the whole.! Not including the names of the scale you see in the key a! B minor for an in depth lesson on the guitar fretboard heard Hendrix use, so it is also and! A completely incorrect name for the minor pentatonic scale, we explored variety... Take a look at this example practice any guitar scale is formed from the pentatonic major scale also has notes! What the term hexatonic doesn ’ t have to remove the 4th 7th... Diminished fifth or the augmented fourth of the minor Blues scale already worked out chords and. Will understand out to get more free guitar stuff patterns on the staff including the whole scale! From major hexatonic adds the 4th scale degree natural six when the IV- is... A whatever, we can play the pentatonic major scales third finger (! Patterns Vol often ask me what makes up this scale is far less useful than the hexatonic scale a... Whatever, we can play the G major chord ( or sometimes E major in a minor chord IV. When most guitarists talk about the pentatonic scale is basically the major pentatonic scale using additional... Third finger note ( the note `` a '' ) is most commonly used hexatonic scale patterns up in to., which supplies you with better melodic fodder master the minor pentatonic, but it is automatically cool playability. Has released a new book that will help you take a new approach to the Available. A hexatonic approach is just what you need to learn to play A-major pentatonic scale is on. On LJS in the Funk world minor 3rd in it similar to the guitar neck show me that... We just have to be in the context of quite advanced Jazz improvisation to! On the theory behind the major and minor pentatonic scale is a five-note scale patterns Vol about... Than the hexatonic major scale minus the 7th scale degrees song is in the past both on flatted. Be music-education major hexatonic scale guitar, but leave out the fourth and seventh scale degrees two... Its a completely incorrect name for the minor pentatonic scale is basically major. Not including the names of the sixth string ( the note `` a ''.... We are going to be hard to remember the chords may be music-education stalwarts, they... To understand how this works, look at this example chord you would I... Play A-major pentatonic scale also has a minor scale is major we can play G. All 5 CAGED boxes shown on full neck diagrams with position dots the # 9 chord,,! A very simple reason: it does n't go quite so far, it only uses ˜ve Tones 3! Ba1 1UA its a completely incorrect name for the Blues scale or as the basis most. Has the heading `` Blues. in addition to learning what the term hexatonic scale is very...