C Major Pentatonic Chord Structure

You notice that the notes on the guitar fretboard are colour co-ordinated. For me this is the best way that I have found to learn how to get to grips with the multiple duplicate notes.

For instance how many C notes can be found across the entire guitar fretboard?

C Major Pentatonic Scale is a 5 note Scale & it can be used over the chord progressions found in:

C Ionian Mode
C Lydian Mode
C Mixolydian Mode

This is because the 5 notes found in the C Major Pentatonic Scale
(C D E G A) can be found in all three Modes listed above.

Having 5 notes makes it very easy to make great sounding lead riffs & solos. Therefore this Scale does not use a 4th or a 7th note. So let’s look at the template used to form a C Major Pentatonic Scale.

Once you have learnt this guitar scale click on the lead guitar backing track link to practise.

Free lead guitar backing tracks!

The concept of the Major Pentatonic Scale is that it is built using only the notes that remain constant across all three Major Modes. For instance, look below at the notes in each of the three Major Modes & you will notice that 5 of the 7 notes feature in all three Modes; (C D E G A)

Ionian Mode

C 	D 	E 	F 	G 	A 	B	C

Lydian Mode

C 	D 	E 	F# 	G 	A 	B	C

Mixolydian Mode

C	D	E	F	G	A	Bb	C

The Bb is used in C Mixolydian Mode

Therefore the F & B are variable across the thee modes & can not feature in the major pentatonic scale.

So this means that the C major pentatonic scale is stripped to its’ shell & can therefore be used to solo over any of the 3 major mode chord progressions!

Here are the chords that you can use for your lead guitar solos'

C	Dm	Em	F	G	Am	B dim
CM7	Dm7	Em7	FM7	G7	Am7	Bm7b5

C	D	Em	F# dim	G	Am	Bm
CM7	D7	Em7	F#m7b5	GM7	Am7	Bm7

C	Dm	Edim	F	Gm	Am	Bb
C7	Dm7	Em7b5	FM7	Gm7	Am7	BbM7

So if you play a chord that is unique to the C Ionian Mode such as; G7, B dim or Bm7b5 then you can use the C Ionian Mode or the C Major Pentatonic Scale.

Unique chords for the C Lydian Mode are:

D, D7, F# dim, F#m7b5, GM7, Bm or Bm7

Then you can use the C Lydian Mode or the C Major Pentatonic Scale.

Unique chords for the C Mixolydian Mode are:

C7, E dim, Em7b5, Gm, Gm7, Bb or BbM7

Then you can use the C Mixolydian Mode or the C Major Pentatonic Scale.

If possible record the chord progressions displayed below or have someone play them & you practice soloing over them using C Major Pentatonic or C Ionian Mode (or try to mix your solos between them).

Chord Progressions associated with the C Ionian Mode:

C  F  G7				
G  F  (Play C Pedal tone)
C  G  F				
C  Am  Dm  G7			 
C  Am  F  G			
C  Em  Am  G 			
C  Dm  G 				
C  Dm  Em  F  G  Am  B dim  C 	
C  B dim 				
Dm G7 C				

All of the above patterns will sound happy/jubilant!

Use Major Pentatonic Scale for Country, Blues, Fusion, Jazz & Rock

If possible record the chord progressions displayed below or have someone play them & you practice soloing over them using C Major Pentatonic or C Lydian Mode (or try to mix your solos between them).

Chord Progressions associated with the C Lydian Mode

C D (Repeated play C Pedal Tone) – This Mode can be used to create a Reggae feel.

C G D C

If possible record the chord progressions displayed below or have someone play them & you practice soloing over them using C Major Pentatonic or C Mixolydian Mode (or try to mix your solos between them).

Chord Progressions associated with the C Mixolydian Mode:

C Bb (Repeated play C Pedal Tone)

This Mode can be used to create a Bluesy feel C Bb F

Action: Practice recording or ask someone to play chord progressions from the three major modes; then solo using the mode then switch to the major Pentatonic scale.

chromatic scale from guitar lessons for beginners

ionian mode from guitar lessons for beginners

dorian mode from guitar lessons for beginners

phrygian mode from guitar lessons for beginners

lydian mode from guitar lessons for beginners

mixolydian mode from guitar lessons for beginners

aeolian mode from guitar lessons for beginners

locrian mode from guitar lessons for beginners

harmonic minor scale from guitar lessons for beginners

melodic minor scale from guitar lessons for beginners

major pentatonic scale from guitar lessons for beginners

minor pentatonic scale from guitar lessons for beginners

blues scale from guitar lessons for beginners

modal studies from guitar lessons for beginners

retutn to guitar fretboard scales from guitar lessons for beginners

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