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Major Pentatonic Scale

David's Tip of the Day: Playing above Hole 6 - Octave Substitution

Posted Tue, 03/04/2014 - 09:27 by David Barrett Admin
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The Major Pentatonic Scale we started with in this series was 6+ 6 7 8 8+ 9+ 10. The same notes are found one octave lower 2 3" 3 4 5+ 6+ 6. These are notes we use all the time. Try making up some licks with these lower notes and moving them up an octave. This is called octave substitution and is a tool often used by improvisers to move up to the high end in a way that makes melodic sense, and commonly without the need of a slick transition lick. Take this lick for example: 2 3" 3 4 5+ 6+ 6+ 5+ 6+ and then repeat it at 6+ 6 7 8 8+ 9+ 9+ 8+ 9+. I use this in my instrumental study song "Blow! continue reading...

  • Major Pentatonic Scale
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  • harmonica
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  • harp
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  • improvising
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  • octave

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