HOST- Jeremy Burns, Matthew Scott Phillips
GENRE- Theory
DURATION- 31:31
BUMPER MUSIC- "Iwato, Alabama" (Area 47)
ANNOUNCER- Mike Cunliffe
Pentatonic scales are five note scales that span the length of an octave.
Major and minor scales, along with their respective modes, are all considered "heptatonic" or "seven note" scales. These scales also have five note subsets that are easier to learn and recognize. They are also more universally used across the globe. In this episode, we will discuss the major and minor pentatonic scales of the west and several others from the east, including the Hirojoshi, Mongolian, Iwato and Yo scales.
05-Major Scales and Key Signatures
08-Minor Scales and Key Signatures
27-Modes
Take the major scale (in this example, C major) and delete scale degrees 4 and 7.
This leaves a scale with no semitones, otherwise known as an ANHEMITONIC scale.
Because we eliminated 2 notes from our 7 note scale, we are left with a 5 note, anhemitonic scale.
This is the PENTATONIC MAJOR SCALE
The PENTATONIC MAJOR (trans-pentatonic) uses scale degrees 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 from the major scale.
It can be recognized in music all over the world.
Take the natural minor scale (in this example, C minor) and delete scale degrees 2 and 6.
As with the pentatonic major example, this leaves an ANHEMITONIC scale.
Because we eliminated 2 notes from our 7 note scale, we are left with a 5 note, anhemitonic scale.
This is the PENTATONIC MINOR SCALE
The PENTATONIC MINOR scale uses scale degress 1, b3, 4, 5, b7 from the natural minor scale.
It is often heard in the music of the Andes, such as "El Condor Pasa" (Alomía Robles, 1913).
It's also heard in a lot of rock and blues, such as "Bombtrack" (Rage Against The Machine, 1991) and
"Voodoo Chile" (Jimi Hendrix, 1968).
The CHINESE MONGOLIAN SCALE is the exact same as MAJOR PENTATONIC.
Below we will use our C pentatonic major scale. Beneath the staff you will see how the 5 notes are each
given a name: GONG, SHANG, JUE, ZI and YU.
The HIRAJOSHI scale is a subset of the natural minor scale.
It includes scale degrees 1, 2, b3, 5 and b6.
It is the basis for many traditional Japanese tunes.
The distinctive sound comes from the use of 2 small intervals and 2 large.
Below we have A Hirojoshi. Beneath the staff, you will see the scale degrees,
as they relate to the NATURAL MINOR scale.
The IWATO SCALE consists of scale degrees 1, b2, 4, b5 and b7.
This scale is the 2nd mode of the HIRAJOSI scale. It is commonly heard in koto music.
The INSEN SCALE consists of scale degrees 1, b2, 4, 5, b7 and is based on the phrygian mode. It is often used in wind chimes. The 5 notes are given male and female characteristics and also represent the 5 elements: earth, fire, wood, water and metal. The first of these notes is not considered the ROOT, rather the 3rd, for attention to balance. Below you will see the INSEN scale, based on A but not "rooted" in A.
The YO SCALE consists of scale degrees 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 of the major scale.
It is 4th mode of MAJOR PENTATONIC scale. Though it’s the 4th mode, it’s not rooted in F.
We’re not in MAJOR. We’re in PENTATONIC. Therefore, G is the 4th scale degree of C Pentatonic.
See below how they correspond. sBelow that, see the G Yo scale.