Modal Pentatonics

We talked about what pentatonics are (and why I like them). Let's look at some application.

I will consider the traditional minor pentatonic the first mode.

First mode
Root - b3rd - 4 - 5- b7

This is the traditional minor pentatonic, the one you hear a million times. You can play this in place of the following modes.
Dorian (best place), Phrygian (not recommended), Mixolydian (b3rd as blue note), and Aeolian (natural minor)

Second mode (start on second note (b3rd) of minor pentatonic)
Root - second - third - fifth - sixth
This is the traditional major pentatonic. Play this in place of
Ionian (major), Lydian (not recommended), and Mixolydian

Third mode (start on third note (4th) of minor pentatonic)
Root - second - fourth - fifith - b7th
I will call this the neutral dominant pentatonic. You can use this in place of
Dorian, Mixolydian

Fourth mode (start on 4th note (5th) of minor pentatonic)
Root - b3rd - 4th - b6th - b7th
I will call this the natural minor pentatonic. Use in place of
Phrygian (still not recommended), Aeolian, and Locrian

Fifth mode (start on 5th note (b7th) of minor pentatonic)
Root - 2nd - 4th - 5th - 6th
This is a truly neutral pentatonic, no third or seventh. Use in place of
Ionian, Dorian, Mixolydian, and if you want to get saucy melodic minor.

I figured out why I like music theory, it is kind of like math.

My two cents.

Why I like pentatonics

Wow, this blog took a U-Turn.

That's ok, guitar gives me much more joy than politics ever did.

Why do I like pentatonics?
1. On a finger speed/dexterity scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being John Petrucci/Yngwie Malmsteen, and 1 being the drummer from Def Lepard, I am about a 3. I like the two notes per string.
2. Angular...not quite jazzy as far as scales go.
3. One scale can fit several modes (I will talk about this on another day).
4. Very versatile...for more info Pentatonic Khancepts by Steve Kahn really opened my eyes.

Let me start with the basic minor pentatonic.

Notes
Root - flat third - fourth - fifth - dominant seventh
1. Shape - two notes per string
----5--8--
----5--8--
----5-7---
----5-7---
----5-7---
----5--8--

2. Angular - conains two augmented intervals; root to flat third, and fifth to dominant seventh
3. Modes...can be used in the following modes - dorian (Santana mode), phrygian (Spanish mode) and Aeolian mode (natural minor). I wouldn't recommend it for phrygian because it doesn't have the exotic first to flat second interal which defines the mode.
Also, you can use it under a dominant seventh chord for the "blues" feeling, minor third note vs. the major 3rd in the chord.
4. Versatile - The minor pentatonic contains a the minor seventh arpeggio (root, flat third, fifth, and dominant seventh) and a scalar run (flat third, fourth, fifth).

I am in the future going to break down some pentatonic "modes", modified pentatonics, and various uses. A lot of this may be new, but I just want to approach it from my angle, and this also lets me keep a record of my thoughts.

My two cents...

The Bad News

I have been convicted to renew my relationship with God.

So I decided to start where Martin Luther did, the book of Romans.

I came across this passage, which is taken from various parts of Isaiah and Psalms.

Roman 3:10-18
¹⁰As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one;
¹¹there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
¹²All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one."
¹³"Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit."
"The poison of vipers is on their lips."
¹⁴"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."
¹⁵"Their feet are swift to shed blood;
¹⁶ruin and misery mark their ways,
¹⁷and the way of peace they do not know."
¹⁸"There is no fear of God before their eyes."

These give the characteristics of sinful man (italics are my thoughts).
Not righteous - immoral
Does not understand - no interest in God's instruction
Worthless - does not serve God's purpose
Does not do good - does harm or complacent
Deceitful - lies
Bitter - angry with the world
Murderous - full of hatred
No peace - internal struggle
No fear of God - does not respect God

That's the bad news, the good news is that Christ's redemption has given us the opportunity to be righteous.

My two cents

What's Next?

I think we may be in a dangerous time right now.

Obama's popularity and support are waning, ACORN is being exposed, Obama's advisors are being exposed, health care is losing steam, but...

When does the next crisis happen? As most well know, the dollar is losing value at frightening levels. The inflation we may see is just frightening. When the economy is tanking, and there is unrest (notice the race-baiting that is happening), there could be a massive domestic crisis. That is how many a dictator has taken control.

I am proud of the Americans who showed up in DC on 9/12. I am proud of the people doing the work to expose corruption. I just hope this stuff doesn't trigger something bad.

I hope I am just paranoid.

My two cents

Are You Kidding?!?

Our lovely elected officials...HAVE THEY READ THE FREAKIN' CONSTITUTION???

To quote Russ Feingold
"Lindsay Graham and I sponsored legislation to have pilot programs in five states," Feingold told the audience. "Maybe we should try some different things. There might be a single-payer state. There might be a co-op state. Let's get some evidence on the ground. This thing right now is not going in the right direction. We might be in a situation where there won't be a bill worth passing." (The Lakeland Times)

Anybody remember that 10th Amendment Thing...you know, Enumerated Powers.

This country was not founded so the federal government can use individual states as testing grounds. States decide for THEMSELVES what they think is best.

I would like to share my favorite tweet regarding this:

@topherbrenner (me) Anyone disturbed the Senate wants to tell different states what to do http://tinyurl.com/n7u3ue #tcot #tlot #gop #iamthemob

@betseyross "Disturbed" is one way to put it. I'd say madder than 40 hells is more like it.

Exactly,

@betseyross, couldn't have said it better myself

My two cents

We the Living

I am reading "We the Living" by Ayn Rand (mostly known for "Atlas Shrugged").

This book is downright frightening. It shows the slippery slope to socialism. Private industry is socialized and then there a few things that make or break a life
- Union membership (the workers)
- Free Professions (middle class)
- Private Traders (the rich)
- Unemployed (the unemployed)

The most troubling passage regarding this is as follows.

In discussing playing for a clogged chimney, the Upravdom (landlord?) gave the breakdown on how the house would pay for it.

"The workers pay three per cent and the Free Professions ten, and the Private Traders and umemployed - the rest."

Sound like anyone's tax plan?

My two cents

Constitutional Abomination

Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.(emphasis added).

Well, who feels safe now? If this health care/insurance reform bill passes, the government will be able to access financial records, medical records, etc. Bet they don't issue warrants for these records.

I guess my biggest issues with all of these bills (health care, cap and trade) come down to two things
1. The economic disaster they will cause
2. The increased hand of government in our lives

If we disagree, we get muscled and ridiculed. Don't remember anything in the constitution about that. It was patriotic to disagree with "W", but you are a racist to disagree with BHO. Without a watchdog for the media, I really don't think we have any hope of defeating these bills. By all means, unite with purpose, unite with peacefulness; but I am feeling really cynical about this.

I don't like what Washington (Democrat and Republican) is doing. And I don't know if we will be able to undo the damage if these bills pass. Let's hope "the mob" can keep them from passing in the first place.

My two cents