Hey folks, and thanks for tuning into another installment of Intense Guitar. Before we begin with this month’s topic, I’d really like to thank the guys at Krank amps for the endorsement. These amps rule, and everyone should definitely check them out (krankamps.com).
In addition, if anyone would like me to cover a particular topic or if you have any questions, please feel free to write to me at my email address below, or hook up with me on MySpace. I can’t always respond to everyone, but I do read every email I get. Please be patient – you may find that I won’t answer you in an email, but in an actual column instead.
This month’s question comes from Jordan Barnes of Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Jordan attended a clinic I gave recently and asked, “I saw you tapping something that was very similar to the pentatonic shapes you wrote out, but they sounded more dominant and “Eastern” than the ones written out. Do you also use dominant pentatonic patterns for tapping as well? If so, could you please write out some fingerings for me?” Jordan, you are spot on with that – I also tap out dominant pentatonics, as well as minor and major pentatonics. Nice observation! Now I’ll write out some patterns for you (and everyone else) to check out. Note that the root notes are circled on the chart.
Now, we’ve gone over dominant pentatonic scale fingerings before, but we haven’t tapped them out. Our fretting fingers will remain the same, so I hope that you have those patterns down pat – if not, you may want to revisit those scale fingerings. But now we’ll introduce the picking/tapping hand into the picture and get even more intervallic. If you recall from last month, there are three different ways to approach tapping. You can tap, pulloff, hammer-on; tap, pull-off, pull-off; and hammer-on, hammer-on, hammer-on. Try experimenting with this scale and its fingerings in place of the minor pentatonic or blues scales. It works very well over the V chord of a progression and will bring a new “flavor” to your musical soundscape. These scales will attract listeners’ attention if you use them sporadically – for example, only over the V chord. Try it!
These are only suggested fingerings and not to be set in stone. Experiment with other fingerings that may be more conducive to your particular style of playing. Remember that it’s always good to try out other fingerings, as you may run into something you may have never thought about.
That about wraps it up for this month. Good luck in your intervallic ventures and we’ll see you next month in Intense Guitar. As always, “Who dares wins!”
Toshi Iseda
Toshi Iseda is an Alumnus of the prestigeous Berklee College of Music and the American Conservatory of Music. He has been featured in Guitar Player, Guitar World and Guitar/Guitar One Magazines, and is a former instructor at the National Guitar Workshop and former instructor at the American Institute of Guitar.
toshi@toshiiseda.com
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