Minor pentatonic scales over minor chords

Applying the minor pentatonic scale to minor chords

Next we are going to do the same thing but this time we'll be using minor pentatonic scales to improvise over minor chords. The formula to learn:
　
Over a minor chord, you can play a minor pentatonic scale based on the root, 2nd and 5th of the chord.

Minor pentatonic played on the 1st degree (root) of the chord

This scale over this chord is most likely how you've been using it anyway so I'm not going to get into much detail here. Before you move on to the next examples at least check what chord tones we get with the most common application of the minor pentatonic scale:

Minor pentatonic played on the 2nd degree of the chord

You can play a minor pentatonic scale a whole step up from a minor chord. Check out why:

This application of the minor pentatonic scale played on the 2nd of the minor chord will give you the major sixth which is "dorian" by nature so I tend to think of this scale used in this context as the "dorian" pentatonic. Superimposed this way, the minor pentatonic scale contains all the upper extensions of the minor chord (9th, 11th, 13th) and works nicely over a min6 or min13th chord.

Minor pentatonic played on the 5th degree of the chord

This is another nice alternative for the plain old minor pentatonic. Played up a fifth you will get the following chord tones:

Unlike the straight minor pentatonic scale, you get the nice addition of the 9th when played in this context. You will also be losing your b3rd which gives the scale more of an ambiguous tonality which I personally like.

Once again the formula chart, this time for applying the minor pentatonic scale to minor chords:

Putting 'Minor pentatonic scales over minor chords' into practice

Let's start by using what we have learned over an all minor chord progression. This chord progression is a simple two chord vamp of a Cmin9 and a Emin9 chord for four bars each. Again, I tend to pick the pentatonic scales that are close to each other so I can connect motifs over the barlines:

Record the changes and experiment:

This is an intervalic 5th sequence played over the barline:

Pentatonic scale audio sample

I used the same chord progression on "Where Spirits Dance" on the "Prospects"CD. Check out the guitar solo. The blatant pentatonic phrases can be found at 00:35-00:42 and 00:57-01:09:

Where Spirits Dance solo