A Few Theory Questions

Hey again all, I have a few questions hopefully people can answer/debate on.

I have got every position of the minor pentatonic scale down. I can play bluesy riffs over progressions using the different positions and it sounds smooth. I wouldn't call it "AWESOMEZ" soloing but its a start. I can hear how the notes fit with the chords.

Now as I seem to understand each position of the pentatonic scale can be a mode of the original scale since it starts on a different note. If I am understanding this correctly then if I use a different position over a certain chord in the progression it will sound even smoother? That is......if I start the position on a note that is the tonic of the chord it will sound more in "balance" or smoother.

Am I correct with this assumption?

On another note, how come all my solos sound so bluesy? I can never get them to sound more "rocking out". Argh. Guess I have to keep plucking away. I just covered the pentatonic major scale and think I will start with a new one today or tomorrow.

Thanks all, and keep playing!

@ CM,
yeah i think you are on the right track. check out Afro's lesson on this topic.
http://www.all-guitar-chords.com/lesson.php?id=6
Phip

blues is a great thing. There are a lot of bands that use the blues based stuff and just make it more rocking.

alot of my solo's are actually blues based and I just add a note or a few notes that are either a) chromatic(not in scale) or b) from a diatonic mode of ___ ____(ex. E Minor).

This helps it to sound a little less like straight up classic blues runs, and helps me define my playing style a little better.

I can't say much about the tonic note start, but, I have used it before and (to me) it sounds pretty smooth for a transition.

If your solo's are sounding bluesy, it's probably because you are not using the 2nd or the 7th of the scale. These notes are left out of the standard scale for pentatonic. If you add in these notes, you might find it sounding a bit more "rocky"

Other than that, seems like you are going down the right path.

JustJeff: wouldn't it be the 4th and the 7th of the scale?

or the 2rd and the 6th(minor)

or the 3rd and the 6th(neutral)

there two more pent but there not as common to be based off of but it really is the 3rd and the 6th because when play minor over major the 3rd is really a #2.

@ChicagoMedic each position contains all the modes it does not matter what note you start on(it does but that's for song reasons not what scale you playing) but what notes you play. ask Case211 what goes on in each position he should know ;)

also you solo sound bluesy because your playing minor pentatonics over major chords give your bit a tonality of 7#2 which is very bluesy

Thanks for the correction, I wasn't thinking >.<

God, I need to get back to studying theory... it's been too long since I've last studied it :(

I'm no expert on the topic, but i had that problem too. Its more in playing style than notes played to me. Look at some rock solos that you like and think about what they use.

On another note, i found that adding chromatic steps to my solos made them sound more bluesy. hahaha.