one more question on scales-having trouble understanding what notes you can play in a certain key.If you look at the notes on an E major scale,then on an E pentatonic,then on an E blues scale there are many different notes you can play in the key of E. Does this mean that when you are improvising for a lead that you can use any of these notes in a lead, or do you have to keep your lead just in the major scale, or blues scale, or pentatonic? It seems if you are using a major scale and then throw in a blues note that is in the same key it just seems out of key. Know what I mean? Thanks for the help

Hey Cheif.

thats a tough question and im going to leave it to the professionals. In the mean time, I'll add in my 2 cents.

First off, you can always switch between the major scale and the MAJOR pentatonic scale because they are both the exact same thing except that the mjaor scale has 2 extra notes in it.
For example, the notes in a E major scale are
E F# G# A B C# D# E
Notes in E MAJOR Pentatonic scale are
E F# G# B C# E

As Don Lappin mentions in the first pentatonic lesson, the reason we cut out the A (4th degree) and the D# (7th degree) notes from the E major scale is because they often pose as a problem during improvisations. This makes the pentatonic scale very flexible during improvisations. In fact, you can confidently use the pentatonic scale for imrpovisations in just about any _style_, whether it be jazz or death _meta_l.

I hope you are aware that there is a difference between the E major pentatonic scale and the E minor pentatonic scale. You mentioned that you used the E blues scale over an E major progression. Be aware that the E blues scale is derived from the E MINOR scale. This means you used a minor scale over a major chord progression. Blues notes dont sound very pleasing when played over a major progression. If you are improvising over a major progression there is no reason why you should not switch between the major scale and the MAJOR pentanoic scale.


As you progress though the theory lessons and mode lessons, you're going to learn alot about this topic so be patient. The lessons cover using what scale with what chord progressions and building specific chord progrssions for specific scales. Musicians switch between scales very often in order to add in different flavors. I personally love using the Harmonic minor scale on top of a minor pentatonic scale. Anyway, make sure you understand the pentatonic scale lessons throughly. Learn the happy finger sad finger concept which don lappin covers in his lessons. You will find that improvising with the major scale is more melodic than the major pentatonic scale since the major scale has 2 more notes in it.


Hope im not conveying the wrong information here. Correct me if im wrong.

Happy improvising

ok now I understand why using a blues scale with a major chord progression sounds wrong.I really appreciate your help- great answer to my question even though it will take some time to fully comprehend it all.I made a drawing of a neck and put down all the note locations of an E major scale throughout all 12 frets on all 6 strings.Thats when I noticed that the E blues scale contained different note locations that just seemed out of key.Thanks for telling me it's a minor key.These scale patterns are very difficult but i guess my brain will catch on eventually. Practice, practice, practice.