Peter Martin digs deep into his Stevie Wonder bag to show some hidden pentatonics over the classic tune, Overjoyed. Explore the #1 global jazz community: openstudiojazz.com
Altered scales and altered pentatonics: Get a note book, alter 1 note at a time for every scale you can think of. Write them all down. Every possible 1 note alteration. Then alter 2 notes, 3 notes, 4 notes. Have fun!
I've listened to Stevie Wonder for years. He's not on another level but a whole other dimension. I love his music. But hearing it broken down like this and disecting the chords, makes u really see what Stevie was playing. It makes me wanna stop playing and singing all together. Lol This post is emensely inspiring but daunting at the same time. LoL. All seriousness, thx for this post.
I appreciate your passion, recognition, explanation, demonstration of Stevie Wonders music. I'm a fan of music I don't know what you are talking about but I hear what you're saying. I'm glad I found you and your posts. I feel you are one of the cats.
awesome Peter, I do actually like the Steve just goes a Bb (one chord sound) the last chord of the intro. then throws us a curve going to Eb. (melody notes d and Bb to Eb. Thank you for all you do!
There's a few in this that are based off of the third of the chord, ie. E minor pentatonic over C major chord, this just gives you colour tones without the root! Hope this helps
There's no set rule but here is what I usually use as a guide: Maj7 chords: work well with minor pent built off of the major third or major 6th m7 chords: work well with minor pent off the root Dominants: work well with minor pent built off the second or 5th for a sus sound The main thing is just realizing that you can superimpose a pentatonic scale on almost any chord tone to get interesting colors out. Those above are some of the most pleasant sounding which I think fit better for this type of music but you can explore with others to get a spicier sound.
Analyze and find the pattern. Try them with the same or similar chords in different songs and contexts. try them in different keys. You'll start to hear the stuff in the playing of others, then you start hearing it and playing it yourself. A little smart stealing and re-appropriation will go a long way!
First learn each major scale mode has 3 possible maj/min pentatonics that fit each mode. A Dorian A min pent , B min pent, E min pent for example. Secondly go through all 12 keys of maj/min pentatonic scale super imposed over a dom7 chord. Write down and learn what intervals are being used and devolpe which ones you like. There's a whole lot of other pentatonic scales also altered pentatonic scales Dom pent 1 2 3 5 b7 for example Can be superimposed. Thirdly go through the maj/min pent and start altering 1 note at a time. Write them all down. Again developed your own opinion about them Min pent 1 b3 4 5 b7 1 b3 4 5 7 1 b3 4 5 6 1 b3 4 5 b6 1 b3 4 #5 b7 1 b3 4 6 b7 1 b3 4 b5 b7 1 b3 #4 5 b7 1 b3 b4 5 b7 1 3 4 5 b7 1 2 4 5 b7 1 b2 4 5 b7 Work out that there's 5 possible modes for each one. Some are related. Do the same thing with major pentatonic. You'll start finding all the possible pentatonics within the major modes and a lot of other scale/modes. Learn modal pentatonics. Research the subjects. Every time you take on a lot of information take some time to let it set in subconsciously over several months. It's a life long journey and all I can tell you is down every hallway is another door with a hallway filled with more doors and hallways. It never ends. Good luck
His altered pentatonic is E min with a flat A 1 b3 b4 5 b7 (#9, 3) From Hungarian minor (Lydian dom #9) 1 #2 3 #4 5 6 b7 Or Phrygian b4 (Harmonic major mode 3) 1 b2 3 b4 5 b6 b7 It could also come from Dorian b4 (Ionian b5 mode 2) 1 2 b3 b4 5 6 b7 Altered pentatonic would have a b5 also 1 b3 b4 b5 b7 From the altered scale (melodic minor mode 7) 1 b2 b3 b4 b5 b6 b7
Super imposed maj/min pentatonic scales all 12 over E: Bb/Gm = Locrian F/Dm = Phrygian C/Am = Aeolian G/Em = minor pentatonic D/Bm = Mixolydian A/Gbm = Dorian E/Dbm = major pentatonic B/Abm = Ionian F#/Ebm = Lydian Db/Bbm= Lydianb2 Ab/Fm= Lydian #5b2 Eb/Cm= Locrian nat 7 This is all subjective because each maj/min pentatonic scale can be played in 3 modes and is a matter of opinion. Bb/Gm would go good over E ALTDOM because it yields b9 #9 and b5. There are charts with all the intervals for all 12 superimposed over dom and ALT DOM chords. Anyone can write out all the intervals. Any scale can be played 1 way and super imposed 11 ways. Hirijoshi 1 2 b3 5 b6 Kumoi 1 2 b3 5 6 Dom pent 1 2 3 5 b7 Lyd aug pent 1 3 #4 #5 7 For example
Cow chord! It conducts better than bismuth! I think I'd call it a sus2 with a shell in the LH... but I'm not a jazzer, so you'd best wiki that definition! (I haven't gotten to that part of the vid yet😅)
I think many of your fans and students including this one would appreciate just a bit more definition of terms. I’ve never heard of an altered pentatonic nor of a blues pentatonic so I was left in the dust on this one.
I know piano is different from guitar. The main hidden pentatonics people use are the 4 Dorian 1 step up Phrygian 1 step down The relative majors are Mixolydian 1 step down Lydian 1 step up So if you learn and combine the root pentatonic and superimposed pentatonic once it works for all 4 of those. Other 2 are minor pent 1.5 step up locrian Minor pent 1.5 step up can also work to super imposed the altered scale. 1.5 steps down would superimpose locrian nat2 aka Aeolian b5.
I failed to understand how you choose what pentatonic scale to use over what chord. Do you just do it by ear or is there a more formulaic way? I would appreciate the help
The melody goes to the 6, however the chord stays major. Respectfully, I listened to the Stevie Wonder track and don't think it goes to m6. So staying on M7 is fine.
Be it super impressive, but unfortunately for me this video is a bit over my head. How did you choose what hidden pentatonic scale to play over what chord.? just so i can try take the same principle in other songs etc. Is it just picking pentatonic scales from neighbouring keys instead of playing on the root note? is there a concept or an idea that i can educate myself on so i can understand your choices in irregular scales over chords? thank you
Yeah pick related pentatonics, especially those that share notes. It’s about creating connecting lines accords the chords instead of winding between scales. It’s more like singing.
Respectfully speaking, I think the “Jazz” approach sound much more developed and musical. The “hidden” pentatonic approach sounds like a pianist who doesn’t have much to say musically.
This was helpful, but you never went over how the pentatonics were structured. You never answered the question in the thumbnail: what is an altered pentatonic? It’s like he got so excited to play the demonstration that he forgot to go over the actual scales!
Yeah, I'm confused on whether this is just intended as a 'solo' section within the song vs. reharmonization of the melody? Even with a solo, I kinda prefer to adhere a bit more closely to the melody, and a little ornamentarion goes a long way. But that's just my personal preference.
I think he just wanted to outlay the harmonic idea he had in mind, its not supposed to be in the song if you were to play it, it should be in your head to use if needed
@@Jasper_the_Cat Anything that gets you inside the chords and flow of the progression helps with improv and reharm, along with further appreciation of the composer. Why can't it be all of the above?
As Peter said, "but wouldn't you rather play it like this," I heard him go from where he started with the opening melody back to the introduction, changing to the hidden pentatonics concept as he did so. Perhaps the comparison would have been clearer had he played the same section for both.
guys, you need to constantly show the overhead shot of the keyboard - as much as I like to look at Peter's face I want to always be able to look at the keyboard to see his fingering notes etc. Most of your videos you guys focus too much on the person speaking. Some people learn better by watching and not listening. And no offense to Peter, but he plays always too fast, like he is trying to impress people. I don't watch to see how fast he can play? Yeah I know there is the slow motion function, but it sounds shit when you slow it down sounds like a cassette tape being stretched. Slow it down please Peter
