THE MUSICARTA PENTATONICS WORKBOOK
The Mix'n'Match Blues
Minor CPTs, Part Four

In this Mix'n'Match Blues module, your left hand gets to play the minor pentatonic scale-plus-CPT in a 'call and response' version, and we add the second chromatic passing tone to give us the full minor pentatonic range.

Here's the first module performance - the 'call and response' version.

Watch-and-listen until you can see the overall shape of the arrangement. (Listening to music 'constructively' like this is a habit we should all cultivate!)

Fingering the LH scale, ascending

As always, do at least as many repetitions with the right fingering as you need to get the fingers to fall on the right keys automatically.

Fingering the LH scale, descending

Getting the thumb-under descending scale smooth is always going to be a challenge.

And both ways...

Practice running up and down this plus-one-CPT scale.

Focus on knowing in advance what the notes are going to sound like. This scale is used widely in all kinds of popular music, not only the blues, so the better you 'see it in the keyboard', the closer you will be to improvising or writing melodies.

Building the first performance

Now start to put your hands together for the call and response performance.

Remember: You're not 'performing' yet, so don't try to play in time (unless you 'just can').

Here's a repeat of the performance you should be able to achieve if your preparation has been sound.

The two-CPT performance

Here's the two-CPT (semitone) version we build up to next. Listen closely to the more smoothed-out bass 'response' - which is where the second CPT appears.

Finding the second chromatic passing tone

The second chromatic passing tone is between the seventh and eighth - a semitone below the octave. Using the two-handed method to find it in the A minor, D minor and E minor pentatonic scales (four notes in each hand).

Note the new technical term - diatonic. Diatonic is the opposite of chromatic, and means without any additional notes inserted, so, just the five pentatonic scale tones.

Follow the video procedure to find and drill the new two-CPT minor pentatonic scale. Here are the relevant keyboard diagrams.

Building the two-CPT performance

Build your first-stage two-CPT performance methodically, making sure you can play each section reasonably well before going on to the next one.

An optional ending

It's nice to work a bit of 'sustain' into this quite bare style of playing. This little trick will have your audience asking themselves, "How does he/she do that?"

Blues playing is full of little tricks like this that the musician works on for years until they become characteristic of his/her style. Start your collection now!

Another two-CPT option

Here's another way to use both CPTs in the left hand and add more variety to your Mix'n'Match Blues.

You now have lots of options - and not all of them explored here. Spend time just listening through various combinations in your head until you think you've arrived at the perfect arrangement.

Remember that you can jot it down without writing down the actual music - any shorthand like the three going around/up/down bass figure symbols will do.

Proficiency in any creative style of playing is built through hours of 'messing about'. Enjoy!