Lesson: Using the Minor Pentatonic Scale Over I7-IV7-V7 Chords

Even if you are not a great blues fan, this is a good place to start learning to solo.  We will start with just five notes and three chords.  This is very limiting but once we cover this, we will learn more interesting approaches.  Let's start in the key of A, fifth position.  Hopefully this is pretty familiar turf.  If not, you should still be able to follow along.

The chords will be A7, D7 and E7.  I'll spell them:
A7= A, C#, E and G natural
D7= D, F#, A and C natural
E7= E, G#, B, and D natural

The A minor pentatonic is spelled A, C natural, D, E and G natural.

Every time the chord changes behind the scale, each note of the scale gets a new character or personality. Let's look at each scale tone against each chord:
A is the root of A7, the fifth tone of  D7, and not present in the E chord.
C natural will "argue" with the C# in A7, but sound great as the seventh tone of D7.  It is not part of E7.
D is not part of the A chord, but is the root of D7 and the seventh tone of E7.
E is the fifth tone of A7, the ninth of D (a common extension) and the root of E7.

One way to think of it is this:  Start the solo on A over the A7.  We'll just play one note per chord for now. When the chord changes to D7, we can play the same A note but it sounds different now.  We let the chord change do the work!  When the chord changes to E7, we should play a different note, as A is not part of the E7 chord.  Let's just go to E, the root of V7, then finish on A.  That has to be the simplest solo!  But don't dismiss it- it is a good foundation.

Now we'll play a VERY simple solo emphasizing those notes as explained above.

It's just six bars long:

Listen to example in Real Audio

O.K., that was pretty easy.  Now I'll apply this to a 12 bar blues.  I am still emphasizing the notes as explained above.
I'll go slowly.  Try to play along, not note for note but focusing on the A and E notes where appropriate. I'll also change octaves for variety, and use a D note on some D chords.

Listen to solo in Real Audio

CAUTION!
This material is deceptively easy!  Make sure you understand this lesson before proceeding to the next.

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