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Musicarta Pentatonics Workbook
One-octave Pentatonic Blues

Part Two: Building Your Performance


Download the module lesson notes here.

Now that we know the minor pentatonic scale, we can start building the module riff performance.

Here is the video build-up in A minor (first third of the performance). It's in four parts. Make sure you can comfortably repeat each section before going on.


The video starts with a practice-speed reference performance.

 Part One


 Part Two


 Part Three


 Part Four


Build-up in D minor

The build-up in D minor, which is just the same, is presented in one continuous video.


Build-up - last third

The last third of the piece isn't quite 'to pattern'.


Two endings

Finish off your performance with a well-turned ending.

Here are two versions of the unison ending in the module performance.


And with the held right-hand octave A.


Of course, as noted, you can just as easily finish off with the simple ending. The important thing is to end your performance decisively and dramatically.

'Twelve bar form'

You should have an 'aerial view' as you work towards a delay-free performance.

Like a lot of minor pentatonic music, the One-octave Blues is in twelve-bar form.

“Twelve-bar” usually means the classic 3-times-4 structure, but here there actually 24 bars in 3-by-8 form (but the same structure).

The chord sequence is this.

As you know, you don’t actually use the E minor pentatonic scale in the module performance.

Here's how to practice the Am-Dm-Am jump.


Keep going over the video resources to build and polish your performance.

 IMPORTANT NOTE

Hum along and tap your foot as you play all the riffs in this module. Minor pentatonic blues riffs like this are very good for 'getting your mojo working'! They're not for sitting quietly and listening politely to!


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THE MUSICARTA
PENTATONICS
WORKBOOK

video course
Introductory
Practice Patterns
Melody Work and
Playing by Ear
Pentatonic Riffs
and Diaries -
Minor Pentatonic
Major Pentatonic
Chromatic Minor
Chromatic Major
Pre-video Pages
Pentatonics videos

Archive Pages


All the Musicarta
YouTube playlists
Pyramids
Pentatonics
Canon Project
Key Chords
Modes
Musicarta
Easy Piano
Musicarta
Blues & 12-bar
Beat & Rhythm
Solos
'Mariaan'
Chords for Carl
Songbook
Basic Music-
making Position
Left-hand-over
Style
Suspensions
Enya Solos
Scales
Technical Exercises
Triads and Inversions