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Altered Dominant Pentatonic Scales and Melodic Minor Scale
Altered Dominant Pentatonic Scales
Altered dominant 7th chords have so many possible sounds that can be played over them. The melodic minor scale is great for creating tension over altered dominant 7th chords and the pentatonic scales contained within the melodic minor scale give us some interesting melodic possibilities.
Most guitarists are familiar with the major pentatonic scale and the minor pentatonic scale. A pentatonic scale simply means a scale that contains five notes.
There are so many 5-note scale permutations that can be extracted from the melodic minor scale, although the major and minor pentatonic scales are the easiest to start with as most guitarists already know these scales.
Major Pentatonic And Minor Pentatonic Scales Within The Melodic Minor Scale
The major pentatonic scale can be played, starting from the 4th degree of the melodic minor scale.
As any major pentatonic scale contains the same notes as a minor pentatonic scale whose root lies three semitones (frets) below the root of the major pentatonic scale, a minor pentatonic scale can be played from the 2nd degree of the melodic minor scale.
If you think of a minor pentatonic scale built from the 2nd note of a melodic minor scale or a major pentatonic scale built from the 4th note of a melodic minor scale, you will play the same notes. The only reason you might think of one approach rather than other is if you relate a certain melodic idea to a major or minor pentatonic scale.
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m7 From ii, Then bii Of 7th Chord
Before venturing into pentatonic scale licks from the melodic minor scale, this example is a more traditional-sounding jazz lick to get your ears used to the sound of this scale.
The fingering is similar to pentatonic scale licks to come, but you do need to hear how the #5, b9 and #9 are commonly used to create tension over the 7th chord.
Once you have this lick under your fingers, you will have a better idea of how to create tension and resolve to the imaj7 chord. The pentatonic scale examples coming up next are not as easy on the ear, so will be more difficult to embed into your repertoire.
Pentatonic Scale and m(maj7) over G7
When playing pentatonic scales. I often use a sweep-picking technique to achieve a fast, smooth sound that still retains dynamics from using a pick. This lick begins with a sweep-picked pentatonic scale and then ventures into using the melodic minor scale.
This type of lick is rather tricky to play cleanly and requires good right-hand control (left hand if you are a left-handed guitarist).
Also, trying these types of licks using distortion as an overdrive sound will accentuate any problem areas. It is often the sounds you don't want popping out that is more difficult to control than the sounds you do want.
m6 Pentatonic Over G7
This lick mixes a traditional pentatonic scale that many guitarists already know with a more non-traditional pentatonic scale that contains a 6th.
A minor pentatonic scale containing the 6th works great for Dorian mode melodies and melodic minor scale melodies.
The scale is used here over a dominant 7th chord which results in altered notes being played over the G7 chord. This approach is great as you can re-use pentatonic scale ideas and sequences from traditional scales and with a slight adjustment, you can create many new sounds.
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