Scales & Tales - Pentatonic Substitutions

Here's the next episode of Scales & Tales with Pentatonic Substitutions. Technically, the concept we're flirting with in this lesson leans more toward superimposing scales and in a few cases, altering the ever-useful and ever-present pentatonic scale.
There are a number of reasons why this is beyond useful and important avenue of study for anyone searching for locating new approaches and a boatload of fresh-sounding ideas, not to mention recycling and using something very familiar that you've (more than likely) known for a while - the pentatonic scale and various fingerings on the fretboard.
The ideas shared in this lesson contain a few "secrets" that appear commonly in rock, metal, jazz, fusion, blues, and various other styles of music. Aside from the obvious benefit of targeting simple pentatonic fingerings and scales that you should already know, the real prize is revealing how the five-note structure of the pentatonic scale can be filled with two additional notes to create full seven-note major and minor scales and modes.
Another bonus for tackling this type of study (which is most common in jazz/fusion music), is the fact that recycling and using pentatonic scale fingerings in this way will force you to change your phrases, articulation, and playing overall, which is always a good thing!
You should find once you begin transporting/altering pentatonic scales, licks, and fingerings like this, that your old licks and tricks won't sound or work quite the same, but you'll tap into an entirely new world of fresh-sounding licks, phrases, and musical ideas using a scale that you already know how to play, you're just using it in entirely new ways..
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[@general7554]

David, it's absolutely shocking that you don't have more followers. I started listening to your videos a while back and absolutely love them. You really spend time breaking things down and explaining it. Thanks for what you do and keep rocking on! By the way, you HAVE to do a video on Queensryche!

[@voronOsphere]

He does. Chordplay: The Chords of Queensryche. It's from a year or so ago....

[@redwind3475]

dude, you are literally changing my entire way of playing and approaching lead, one video at a time. thank you!

[@CaptnShred]

Just what I needed! I’ve been really digging into pentatonic scales and subs. Traditional pentatonic scales are often overlooked or disregarded by guitarists, but I’ve come to find they are pretty useful devices you can get a lot out of. Especially when improvising.

[@carlosantenna]

YOU ARE ONE OF THE BEST TEACHERS ON KZbin!!!! HANDS DOWN

[@thebomontellano4996]

I learned Japanese scale back in 1994. Native American folk and Peruvian Indigenous folk music uses a pentatonic scale in their music too.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

I'd love to know them if you happen to read this and type them out for us.

[@bmoraski]

There you go laying knowledge on us. Thank you. Loving all your content. Even though i dont normally comment.

[@voronOsphere]

Great Lesson, David!!!! I love these theory focused lessons, too!!! I also picked up the new Guitar Player magazine, this morning, with your latest lesson on Blues Passing Tones! Very cool! Spans several pages!!

[@aquabot]

13.31 ha, I've been using that scale a lot, lately. I came up with some pretty good doom metal riffs with that.

[@gonzaloarancibiaoficial4134]

Dude, this stuff has been a real value during quarantine. I hope you do a second part with this material. Greetings from Chile. Thank you !

[@rabbitohsrule121]

I love the theory behind the lydian, using d# minor for reference. A great simple way of remembering when adding flavour to your improvising. Great lesson.

[@HazeOfWhearyWater]

This guy should have WAY more subscribers. These are great lessons.

[@johnhoward2687]

Great lesson. I get tired of running pentatonic scales all the time. When I’m playing with a jam track. I will try these out. Thanks.

[@shannonjones3714]

Another fantastic lesson! Thank you for sharing your great ideas with us! You are an excellent player!

[@image30p]

Interesting. The Hirajoshi scale is pretty crazy. I've heard that one in a few movies. Very evocative.

[@curtpozzi5527]

The Japanese pentatonic.

[@carldulcie364]

very harmonic minor sounding

[@michaeleaster1815]

Great lesson... thanks for putting it together! I know the Ditto played a cameo role in this one, but I'd be very interested in lessons on using a looper for time practice...

[@obiem9319]

This is very interesting. When we play the pentatonic scales we are playing outside. Thanks. I learned this from Jimi Hendrix, Coltrane and Scott Henderson. Jimi did it on Third Stone From the Sun and May This Be Love.

[@voronOsphere]

The Minor Pentatonic Scale fits into Minor Blues without leaving the Minor Scale. Major Blues (the more common Blues), is where the Minor Pentatonic falls outside of the Major Scale twice (the flat 3rd & flat 7th), but sounds totally cool & Bluesy.

[@keithraaum9559]

Loved this one, great vid. You mentioned chord substitutions and I'd be very eager to see you do something on that (chord inversions as well).

[@thedeadonmusic1]

Whilst I watch most of the "bigger" guitar teachers on the web, I must say that I consistently get more out of your lessons than any of the other teachers. The only one who gives you a run for your money is the guy from the Signals channel. Thanks David! PS Hirajoshi is coool!

[@Paul_at_9]

This has been a fantastic episode. Thanks so much for this video. You've inspired me to get the Ditto looper. Two-thumbs, right up!

[@OgonGuitarist]

Great lesson, David. On the topic of alternative pentatonic scales, I recently discovered the so-called "John Coltrane" pentatonic, which I've quickly put to great use - both over familiar chords found from the major scale chord-scale family, and more exotic altered chords. Highly recommended to other players - search KZbin for "John Coltrane pentatonic guitar" to find a great video that presents the scale in the form of some amazing sounding patterns.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

1, 2, flat3, 5, and 6?

[@Jasonfurrofficial]

Great lesson man as always bro! Great info! You have a phenomenal way with showing these processes. I read the comments by the other followers of your channel and I can see you're changing their lives! I would love you to expand this process to pentatonic substitution soloing over chords. Pretty much how we learned to play through jazz progressions. When I learned that my plain ol' pentatonic box could be in different locations to outline tension tones over a chord, my world change! You're an awesome teacher and keep up the great content!

[@CarlosMVOliveira]

Thank you!

[@thedaver8]

I love how clearly you explain your lessons! Thank you so much for all your effort with your content!

[@han36solo]

Fantastic lesson Brew!

[@bpatts1652]

Great lesson...perfect for my style and approach to playing. Thank you!

[@jamesmarciniec4787]

Awesome lesson. I see Steven Wilson The Raven that Refused to Sing pic in the background great album.

[@SRHMusic012]

David - Great! This is a topic I come back to every so often but haven't "owned" yet (going to a desired 'sound' with a pentatonic sub without thinking (much)). Keep up the good work.

[@davidsmith-jj4iq]

Yet another excellent lesson,well presented and ,as always informative ,and giving new life to scales most are familiar with,as ever you are so good at giving information,in a useful,understandable way,well done ,have followed you for a while,always finding new bands /guitarists/info ,thanks.

[@bak1386]

So glad I found this channel. Its a gold mine of great info

[@BlackMath69]

dope lesson...thanks never thought about it as a 5 note arpeggio

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

An arpeggio is a chord as you know, but a chord can be any 3 or more notes, even E, F, and F# can be a chord, perhaps not that pretty, but still. Just saying that's how free you are to explore.

[@BlackMath69]

@@aylbdrmadison1051 right like rootless voicing ...etc

[@mellowjim]

Great lesson!

[@fredericadda]

If I do the math to check all combinations starting from E minor pentatonic and adding a 2 and a 6, the last possibility (apart from Aeolian, Dorian and Phrygian) is EFGABC#D, which is the second mode of melodic minor (Phrygian #6). I wonder how it sounds. Gonna check this out!

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

@@CMM5300 Thanks so much for letting us know about that. I just downloaded the pdf and it already reminds me of the time when my friend brought his dads book of scales from all over the world to the studio, or later finding Ted Greene's books back in the day (another great resource). Heven't seen anything comprable until this, and I am amazed that there seems to be even more information.

[@CMM5300]

@@aylbdrmadison1051 I'm checking out Ted Greene's books... thanks!

[@simonhunt8896]

My knowledge of theory is quite limited, but this was definitely a “light bulb” moment! Thank you.

[@austinfailz]

I like to go into or out of a typical Major or minor pentatonic idea by going into Hirojoshi.

[@musicmotorskate7540]

What an eye opener. Great lesson!

[@ganazby]

Fantastic lesson, David. Thank you.

[@jboughtin7522]

Thank you. Really dig the scale analysis.

[@alward5678]

Great lesson. Thank you., David. ❤️

[@garycoxgc]

Brilliant lesson…love your approach 👍🏻

[@jayartz8562]

Awesome!

[@alward5678]

Man, you do great lessons. Thank you.

[@andymellor9056]

🤩 This is a goldmine.

[@DrRonaldSIpock]

David, I've been going through changes. And I don't mean the Black Sabbath song. I've been fumbling through those jazz fundamentals: Rhythm Changes, Bird Changes, Coltrane Changes. Since you're the most lucid instructor out there, if you had any perspective on these things, it would undoubtably move my studies forward.

[@arifq123]

Excellent. Wow

[@GrilledCheesemmmm]

More deep dive theory. I love the stuff, thanks.

[@breathtimebreath4934]

Man! Do you teach guitar lessons online?

[@MikeCindyWhite]

Thank you much bro!! 🎸🎸👍

[@enricosenno7767]

Great vid! How about arpeggio substitutions next time? Cheers

[@RipVDub]

Thanks Dave! Hirajoshi scale...sure...why not?!?

[@KevinToine]

Listen to "sakura" if you want to hear a song using the Hirajoshi scale. There is a gorgeous classical guitar version

[@donaldmccoy49]

SAVAGE!!! You helped me AGAIN!!! I may need to join a Zappa cover band now....lol

[@user-sn3cs2hd8r]

David could you cover how you end a number of phrases ending in different chords/key

[@fabghassem]

💯

[@azbluesdog]

⬅️ new tricks!

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

lols I wonder just how often that can be timed so perfectly for. Only an old dog would know I suppose.

[@wulfenii64]

Isn't the Em11 the Starship Trooper chord?

[@wulfenii64]

Nope, one note off.

[@strivingx67]

I should really quit being a cheap skate and get a looper lol

[@edwincrain986]

I'm tuned to E sharp ....wait :)

[@voronOsphere]

Up a half-step? That's probably a 1st!

[@edwincrain986]

:)

[@RedroomStudios]

if I had a working guitar I would definitely try these!

[@monkface]

Cool lesson but the font in the pentatonic scale comparison chart is not easy to read at all really!

[@kevmet84]

😎

[@gthrockstar]

OH! Far out man -

[@saddle8bag]

I'm not worthy...