Pentatonic Substitutions

Here is a quick list of where you can use various pentatonics.

I will put down a type of seventh chord, and what degree of the scale you can start a minor pentatonic. Hopefully this will make a little more sense as I move along.

Major Seventh (R - 3- 5- 7)
2nd
3rd
6th
7th

For example, if you are playing over a Cmaj7, you can play a minor pentatonic rooted on the D, E, A, and B. The pentatonic built on the 7th degree has a #4 for a lydian feel.

Minor Seventh (R -b3 - 5 - b7)
1st
2nd
4th
5th
b7th

The pentatonic on built on the b7th contains the b2, for the Phrygian feel.

Dominant Seventh (R - 3 - 5 - b7)
2nd
5th
6th

If you notice, you can use the pentatonic based on the 2nd for all of those chords. This happens to be the neutral pentatonic (1 -2 - 4 -5 -6).

Now for a few more "exotic" chords
Altered dominant 7 (alt)
b3rd
4th
b7th

Minor 7 b5
b3rd
4th
b7th

As you can see, the same pentatonics can be played over these chords.

minor 6th or minor/major 7 (melodic minor)
2nd

Well, that's my 2 cents for today.