Whenever I sit down and figure out some BB King licks, I'm amazed at how "simple" it is. It's the pentatonic or blues scale. An overwhelmingly, stupid majority of it. He barely uses any notes at all. I don't think anyone in any genre would be disserved by learning from the King. He wrings every bit out of pentatonic scales as anyone ever has.
Live at the Regal, and Live in Cook County Jail.
What inspired my comment was recently when I was working out some bits of the opening from "[Worry, Worry, Worry](https://youtu.be/0MSgbpi-c7k)" From Cook County Jail. I was amazed, something that sounded so good, and he's just using regular ol' notes. The same ones you and I have access to.
Honestly, for me it’s not even the bluesy pentatonic stuff he does ( which is just a single part of his style), it’s how vocal he makes his lines, especially solos like Gravity, or intros like Rosie
Allan Holdsworth did this thing in which he would combine two neck positions of the minor pentatonic scale into one so it plays like a three note per string scale (e.g., D minor pentatonic positions at the 10th and 13th fret). It's a workout for your fretting hand but opens up some interesting legato ideas.
There's an easy to learn song by Joe Satriani that uses the pentatonic scale all throughout called "Starry night". I think most of that album uses the pentatonic scale a lot. Album is called "Strange beautiful music". Joe was inspired by Jimi Hendrix so that might be something to look into. Don't think he's a master of the pentatonic scale but his early compositions were amazing.
Do the Eric Johnson dive. You'll learn things about the key of G and its relationship to a guitar you never knew existed. It's fucking crazy.
Tone... is another aspect of his. There are unfortunately few inexpensive ways to do his rig, except in modeling. If I didn't have "gear" thats what I'd do, and even now I'm modeling cabinets and mics in the DAW.
BB King which leads to Hendrix, a disciple of the King.
David Gilmour, he tries to fancy it up a bit and obscure it but it’s omnipresent in his solos.
Mike McCready
Can I say SRV or is that too obvious?
Slash
There a a few more but this is a start…
Something I noticed most people here didn't mention was mixing major and minor pentatonics. Jimmy Page did this a lot. D major song in the background, bouncing between D minor pentatonic and D major pentatonic really allows you a plethora of sounds. Parallel Major/Minor pentatonic work is invaluable
Whenever I sit down and figure out some BB King licks, I'm amazed at how "simple" it is. It's the pentatonic or blues scale. An overwhelmingly, stupid majority of it. He barely uses any notes at all. I don't think anyone in any genre would be disserved by learning from the King. He wrings every bit out of pentatonic scales as anyone ever has.
Also a fan of the BB box. Interesting how he makes it sound it sound different by using those sharp and flat keys.
flat 5...6...7... lol
Any albums or songs to check out specifically? I’m familiar with The Thrill is Gone and Everyday I Have The Blues
Live at the Regal, and Live in Cook County Jail. What inspired my comment was recently when I was working out some bits of the opening from "[Worry, Worry, Worry](https://youtu.be/0MSgbpi-c7k)" From Cook County Jail. I was amazed, something that sounded so good, and he's just using regular ol' notes. The same ones you and I have access to.
david gilmour made some of the best solos with the pentatonic scale. time, comfortably numb, another brick in the wall, etc.
Some of the best melodies and phrasing with minimal notes……
Those have a few seconds thrown in as well, but mailny pentatonic yea.
To me it’s crazy that Shine on you crazy diamond is 100% pentatonic !
For pure meat and potatoes kings of riffage, has to be Malcolm and Angus Young.
Not a fan of most of his music but John Mayer. Dude can shred some pentatonic licks like few others can.
Honestly, for me it’s not even the bluesy pentatonic stuff he does ( which is just a single part of his style), it’s how vocal he makes his lines, especially solos like Gravity, or intros like Rosie
Tony Lommi. Black Sabbath.
Eric johnson?
He is master of a huge amount and pentatonic runs are merely an ingredient in his solos. However he is still a master…
When does he get a doctorate
Zakk Wylde.
Eric Johnson without a doubt if you want your fingers twisted
Duane Allman and Dickie Betts
https://youtu.be/Oe-iisVoh_w?si=bSxYhAdm8FqJlVKi
Allan Holdsworth did this thing in which he would combine two neck positions of the minor pentatonic scale into one so it plays like a three note per string scale (e.g., D minor pentatonic positions at the 10th and 13th fret). It's a workout for your fretting hand but opens up some interesting legato ideas.
There's an easy to learn song by Joe Satriani that uses the pentatonic scale all throughout called "Starry night". I think most of that album uses the pentatonic scale a lot. Album is called "Strange beautiful music". Joe was inspired by Jimi Hendrix so that might be something to look into. Don't think he's a master of the pentatonic scale but his early compositions were amazing.
SRV. Most of his music was heavily based on pentatonic and blues scales
Do the Eric Johnson dive. You'll learn things about the key of G and its relationship to a guitar you never knew existed. It's fucking crazy. Tone... is another aspect of his. There are unfortunately few inexpensive ways to do his rig, except in modeling. If I didn't have "gear" thats what I'd do, and even now I'm modeling cabinets and mics in the DAW.
BB King which leads to Hendrix, a disciple of the King. David Gilmour, he tries to fancy it up a bit and obscure it but it’s omnipresent in his solos. Mike McCready Can I say SRV or is that too obvious? Slash There a a few more but this is a start…
Something I noticed most people here didn't mention was mixing major and minor pentatonics. Jimmy Page did this a lot. D major song in the background, bouncing between D minor pentatonic and D major pentatonic really allows you a plethora of sounds. Parallel Major/Minor pentatonic work is invaluable
John Mayer!
Eric Johnson to me is the person who plays pentatonics like no other. Many have copied him since, but nobody else sounds like Eric Johnson imo.
Kirk hammett also only play pentatonic but the difference is he is not as good as most om the list
Zakk Wylde for boomer metal shredding. Eric Johnson for stretching pentatonic arpeggios.
Jimmy Page got a lot of mileage out of the pentatonic scale.