Pentatonic Scales Over 2 5 1

In this lesson we explore three five-note blues patterns in B♭7 built from the tones 1 – ♭3 – 3 – 5 – ♭7.

The aim being to repeat the same pattern replacing the ♭7 with the 6 the second time.

These patterns capture the classic blues sound while giving you clear, repeatable shapes across the neck.

PDF (pay what you want) transcription with Tab / Notation available on GUMROAD.

When exploring improvisation over a major 7 chord on guitar, pentatonic scales offer versatile and melodic options.

This approach allows you to expand your phrasing and musical expression over a single chord using the relative major and minor pentatonic scales.

Guest Post By Jack Handyside at pickupmusic.com

Jazz standards are some of the most beautiful and interesting pieces of music ever written, but learning these complex songs and committing them to memory can feel overwhelming if you don’t know where to start.

Luckily for you, we’re here to help! This article will introduce you to a tried and true, eight-step method that you can use to learn any jazz standard. Our focus today will be on the classic jazz standard Autumn Leaves written by Joseph Kosma.

Arpeggios are a fundamental aspect of music theory and play a pivotal role in creating expressive melodies, harmonies, and improvisations across various musical genres. In this exploration of basic arpeggios, we will learn how to connect Maj7, 7, min7, m7b5, dim7, min6, and 6 arpeggios (by moving only one note at a time) and how to make the link with basic chord shapes.

In this brief jazz guitar tutorial you will learn how to use three important jazz scales (Dominant Bebop, Dorian Bebop and Chromatic) and also a diminished 7 arpeggio over ii V chord sequences. Short video and free printable PDF available.

Lesson By Diego Wasserman

In this video Diego show you 20 jazz guitar lines from Django's recordings played over minor and major 2 5 1 (II-V-I) progressions. He plays them at different tempos and provides a brief analysis showing the scales, motifs and arpeggios used. Two different positions for each lick are also proposed on the fretboard. The idea is to understand how Django Reinhardt approach the famous II V I progression.

Lesson By Thomas Berglund

This video lesson is an easy chord/melody guitar arrangement of Blue Bossa, a very popular instrumental latin jazz tune composed by Kenny Dorham. The video includes a lesson where Thomas shows and discusses the arrangement and also provides tips to make your own arrangements.

Lesson by George Nazos

In this short video lesson with tab, George proposes a guitar lick/exercise in rhythm and picking.  He shows how to use different subdivisions in arpeggios following a 2 5 1 6 chord progression while using substitution for the dominant arpeggios from the altered scale.