banjola1 - Posted - 02/20/2023:  01:01:47

Hi,

Here is a G Major Pentatonic Scale study in triplets played on the first three open strings. If you play these triplets as shown in the exercise, you have a nice orderly pattern up and down the neck. It sounds like G water music.

Another interesting fact about these triplets is that you can also play the notes together as separate G Major Chords. The Major Pentatonic Scale is very forgiving in this regard. Play any three *adjacent* notes in the order of the scale, and you will also get five G sounding chord forms. They will be a little different sounding at first, but as train your ears to hear them as G sounding, they will create extra possibilities for back-up playing.

G Major Pentatonic Scale = G A B D E 

Three note chords that sound like G:

G - A - B

A - B - D

B - D - E

E - G - A

A - B - D

Everything seems to come in 3's in G tuning. There are only three chord positions in this study and two of them are repeated twice. You'll see this when you start to learn them. I started the exercise with A - B - D at the second fret because it is the lowest triplet/chord in open G tuning. Learn these up and down the neck and think of them as real G chords apart from your standard G bluegrass positions. Pretty soon, you can add them to your playing repertoire of understanding to create material for your own banjo solos. Keep in mind that the G Pentatonic scale is also good for E minor. (Em7) This same principle will also work for C = (Am7) and D = (Bm7) pentatonic scales. (See attachments)

It's a lot of fun!

patcloud.com

Edited by - banjola1 on 02/20/2023 01:25:21

G Major Pentatonic Triplets

G Pentatonic Triplets

Texasbanjo - Posted - 02/20/2023:  04:45:03

Pat, when I first started trying to learn to play by ear, my instructor introduced me to the pentatonic scale and chords. It was one of those lightbulb moments. I suddenly could find melody notes!!

I'll try your pentatonic triplets and see how they sound. Might be a good warmup exercise?

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 02/20/2023:  05:08:45

Here's a version that stays in the lower part of the neck, thanks Pat for your posts on BHO.

 

stanleytone - Posted - 02/20/2023:  05:47:36

Two books every 5 string banjo player should have:
Masters of the Five String Banjo by Trischka and Wernick
Key to the Five String Banjo by Pat Cloud.

banjola1 - Posted - 02/20/2023:  09:09:10

quote:

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Originally posted by Texasbanjo

I'll try your pentatonic triplets and see how they sound. Might be a good warmup exercise?

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Hi Texas,

Sure! An interesting project is to relate these triplet forms to the 3 standard major G bluegrass forms you already know.  You can see areas where the patterns are close to these standard bluegrass chords and where they are in between. All this is just another way of visualizing and hearing.

Concentrating on the first three open strings, the G major triad, can teach you a lot about the neck. The 4th and 5th string octaves can be integrated and considered later.

Pat-

patcloud.com

banjola1 - Posted - 02/20/2023:  09:12:43

quote:

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Originally posted by mmuussiiccaall

Here's a version that stays in the lower part of the neck, thanks Pat for your posts on BHO.

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Rick,

That's great! Keep exploring and discovering. It's some of the best practice you can do!

gordo1100 - Posted - 02/20/2023:  13:42:06

Thanks for this post. I’ve never heard of the book by Pat Cloud .
Just ordered it on Amazon!

banjoy - Posted - 02/20/2023:  14:15:57

quote:

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Originally posted by gordo1100

Thanks for this post. I’ve never heard of the book by Pat Cloud .

Just ordered it on Amazon!

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banjoal1 *IS* Pat Cloud. If not too late, cancel your Amazon order and order it from Pat directly patcloud.com/

He might even autograph it for you. I bought mine directly from Pat but he did not autograph my copy so I guess you need to ask for that.

Anyway, I agree it's an excellent booklet to have. Money well spent.

Edited by - banjoy on 02/20/2023 14:17:56

gordo1100 - Posted - 02/21/2023:  03:36:49

Oh,
It shipped already. I don’t think I can cancel it now.
Thanks though.