Four-note groups
With
Tim RichardsLearn how to play and use the C minor pentatonic scale on the piano, and the fingering for four-note groups based on the C minor scale.
What's in the course
20 lessons (0h 46m) · 1 free
Lesson transcript
Understanding the A Minor Pentatonic Scale
The melody in the tune you've just played, "Soulful Step," comes from this five-note scale, which is called the A minor pentatonic scale.
Scale Derivation
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This scale is derived from the Dorian scale by leaving out the notes A and D.
-
The notes we have are:
- Root
- Flat 3
- 4th
- 5th
- Flat 7
This is a really widespread scale, used a lot in blues, jazz, rock, pop, and folk as well.
Playing the Scale
The thing about this scale is you can play it, as you heard, in the melody over not only C minor but also F.
Be Cautious of Clashes
However, there is one drawback to that method:
- If you play the F chord in the left hand with the B flat in the right hand, it creates a clash between the A in the F chord and the B flat in the scale.
Important:
- Avoid that clash by not playing the B flat at the same time as you play the chord.
Example:
- Playing the descending scale like this is no problem.
- But if you include the B flat simultaneously, you'll get that clash.
You can play the scale with the B flat below as long as it's a passing note - no problem there.
Focusing on the Pentatonic Scale
Now we're going to focus a little bit more intensely on this pentatonic scale.
Four Note Groups
Let's look at the four-note groups that you can derive from it:
- First Group: Thumb on the root.
- Now, put the thumb on E flat.
- Play the next four notes:
- Thumb on the flat third
- Thumb on the fourth
- Thumb on the fifth
- Thumb on the flat seventh
We will actually repeat those hand positions in the next tune, "Sing and Play."
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Critically acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Tim Richards is one of Britain’s most experienced jazz educators, teaching piano privately for over 30 years, as well as at Morley College, Goldsmiths College, the University of Surrey, Premises Studios and other venues in the UK and abroad. He has produced numerous titles for Schott Music, including the best-selling two-volume Exploring Jazz Piano, Blues, Boogie & Gospel Collection and the acclaimed Improvising Blues Piano. He is also co-author, with John Crawford, of Exploring Latin Piano and Brazilian Piano Collection.
More recently Schott have published Jazz, Latin & Modern Collection (15 pieces for solo piano), comprising Tim Richards originals alongside pieces by Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk, and the two volume set Beginning Jazz Piano (now a two-part MusicGurus course).
“The real joy of Tim’s music… is that it is both hugely educational but also such great fun to play. Anyone with the slightest interest in learning to play or teach jazz piano should really acquire a set of Tim’s books.” PianoDao
As a performer Tim has been a presence on the UK jazz scene since the 1980s, also playing the blues with UK and US legends such as Otis Grand, Earl Green, Dana Gillespie, Larry Garner, Joe Louis Walker and Mojo Buford. He has released over a dozen albums as a leader (featuring many of London’s best jazz musicians including Pete King, Gilad Atzmon, Tony Kofi, Jason Yarde, Seb Rochford, Ed Jones, Dick Pearce and many others), and toured all over Europe with line-ups ranging from duo to nine-piece. His latest recording, the album ‘Telegraph Hill’ by the six-piece Hextet, was described in The Observer as "A true joy from beginning to end".
More info can be found on his website www.timrichards.ndo.co.uk
