Questions About Lesson 24 and 25

[Jak Angelescu]

Hey there everyone! I finally moved on to lesson 25, and there’s something I noticed in the lessons. Especially when Papa says, “Now the pentatonic scale in this position is this.” But I’m not sure what pentatonic scale I’m playing. I’m still a baby with theory and so, I’m a little uncertain. We seem to be sticking to the key of Dmajor in both lesson 24 and 25, so are both of these pentatonics in each lesson I’m learning a D major pentatonic? Because they both start on different notes. So even though they both start on different notes, are they basically D major pentatonic even though they don’t start on a D?
Another question, is when he says, “The major scale out of this position is this” and I know I’m playing the notes in a D major scale, but I’m not actually playing a D major scale, because I’m not starting on D. Is this kind like a modal thing? Would it be A mixolydian because I’m starting on A? Are there modal scales for pentatonics too? Am I playing like A mixolydian pentatonic or is that even a thing? Thank you guys so much!!!

 

[Vasrely Derian]

http://www.phillewisguitar.com/5MajorPentatonicPositions.jpg
Yes, they are both in the D major pentatonic scale. Its just in different positions/shape. Meaning they both start in different notes.
The possition in lesson 24 is right next to the one in lesson 25.

 

[idssdi]

If it has thé same notes it is probably the same scale. Playing the same set of notes in succession but starting on a different note would mean it’s a modal thing indeed. Modal playing is a thing in every single scale. You have it in melodic/harmonic minor. In pentatonics they are also there(pentatonics are effectively the same scale as the natural minor/major scales but just leaving out some notes)
Hope this helps!

 

[Jak Angelescu]

YES!! You guys totally helped out, thank you! Would a D major scale starting on A be an A mixolydian?

 

[idssdi]

Yes it would
I-Ionian
ii-Dorian
iii-Phrygian
IV-Lydian
V-Mixolydian
Vi-Aelian(natural minor)
VII-locrian(the VII chord would be half diminished)
This is just a small of the whole thing. If you have anymore questions feel free to ask!

 

[Jak Angelescu]

Ids, thank you so much. Every site I found with that information wanted to go into ridiculous detail that left me confused and lost. And you just simplified it for me. Lol! Thank you soooo much, my friend!

 

[idssdi]

No problem! I like to simplify stuff! I’m pretty much trained to do exactly that!

 

[Brian Haner Sr.]

Yes and no. It really comes down to usage and application. You can play a D Major scale and start on any note in the scale and always be in D Major. OR you can use the exact same set of scales (D Major starting on D, D Major starting on E, D Major starting on F#, etc.) and be playing in different modes – each one with a different tone center.
So let’s go with your example of A Mixolydian (which is a D Major scale starting on A). This works when you are playing over A7 or A9. So let’s say you have a jam that just stays on A7 and never goes to any other chord. Your tone center is A. You are definitely playing in A. You will resolve to A. But the notes you use will be the same as a D Major scale. So why not just play a D Major scale? And here is where it gets a bit confusing. A D major scale has a tone center of D. The notes you land on and resolve will serve the tone center of D and not A7. So you need to understand where your tone center is and adjust accordingly.
So to confuse you further – just as you can start on any note in a D Major scale and still be in D Major, you can also start on any note in an A Mixolydian scale and still be in A Mixolydian. Same group of notes in both scales. Different usage. DIFFERENT TONE CENTER.
The good news here is that once you learn the 7 positions of the D scale – you have also learned all 7 modes of D. We don’t have to learn 7 new scale positions for A Mixolydian. It’s all just the notes of a D Major scale.
The trick is to play these scales in a different context that relates to the tone center.
Just so you know – the difference between the 7 positions of a Major scale and modes is one of the most confusing things I teach.
Hope this helps!

 

[idssdi]

Aan damn. I really shouldn’t reply on stuff when I’m drinking because I leave things out. PG nailed it here. The modes are effectively a matter of where your tone center is.

 

[Brian Haner Sr.]

You were right, Ids. You just didn’t give the whole picture. And the whole picture is confusing! lol

 

[Brian Haner Sr.]

Just re-read your original question, Jak – which was about the pentatonic scale. So the notes in a D Major pent scale are D-E-F#-A-B. You can start the scale on any of these notes and it is still a D Major Pentatonic.

 

[Jak Angelescu]

Thank you so much, Papa G! I actually took your advice and tested out my knowledge with my singer playing the piano. It literally opened up SO much for me and I really appreciate it! And you explained it perfectly!!