Improvising 302 - Major Pentatonics and Arpeggios

Time to mix major pentatonic and major arpeggios. The ultimate goal of this is to be able to craft your lead lines by visualizing chord tones and adding in other notes in the pentatonic scales to connect these chord tones.  Here’s the formula:

Pick a key. 

Play lowest playable octave shape.

Play the chord.

Play the arpeggio.

Play the pentatonic scale. 

Increase all the way up the neck to achieve all 5 patterns. 

Once you get used to these options, it is up to you as to how much of each you want to use, but it is imperative to be aware of all options.  

Play a vamp from the jam tracks, or make your own vamp with a loop, and practice improvising over a 1 chord vamp going through all 5 of the patterns. 

After that, try a 1 4 5 progression. Really listen and visualize the changes in the chord tones, and the overlap of the pentatonic scales. 

You want to be able to see and hear the different chords and create lead lines that connect the chord tones in a way that makes sense. 

It’s not easy, but you can do this!  If you can hear the chord changes in your lead playing, you’re doing the right stuff. 

Jam Tracks:

1.  C major vamp

2.  D major vamp

3.  G 1 4 5

4.  C 1 4 5