Musicarta Pentatonics Workbook
Build-up of Tones
Page Two

This is Page Two of the major pentatonic build-up of tones drills.

You should have completed Page One and be able to sing/say both the contour and scale-tone name lyrics.

Two-black-key pentatonic scales

The A and E flat major pentatonic scales use two black keys (always one less than the accidentals in the key signature).

Some of the videos below have the 'contour' lyrics and some the scale-tone names. Practice both in all keys for a thorough grounding on the major pentatonic tonality.

Three-black-key pentatonic scales

Four-black-key pentatonic scales

The all-black-key G flat/F sharp major pentatonic scale is not presented at all in the Musicarta Pentatonics Workbook as being awkward and frustrating to play and of little practical use.

Visualising

If you know this tune, you can practice anywhere!

Sing any note as tonic and play through the drill in your mind's eye in any key you like - it doesn't matter at all whether you're singing/humming/thinking the 'right' note.

Work through the keys by number of black keys used: C, F and G (none), D and B flat (one), A and E flat (two), E and A flat (three), and B and D flat (four).

You can do profitably do this with any of the pentatonic scale-tone practice patterns too. You will soon find that your 'guesses' at what a neighbouring or reasonably close piano key is going to sound like get more and more accurate.