Pentatonic box use

[tjon]

Can someone explain what boxes work well over what stuff. When im soloing I ususally end up using a box with the root note of the 5th fret on the low E or a box with the root note of 12 on the low E. I feel uncomfortable going to notes outside those 2 boxes can anyone help me expand my pentatonic knowledge :?

 

[Neeklaus]

haha , he said box use.......

anyway, i'm no theory instructor but your best bet is to start learning the different box shapes on the way down the neck.

think of it like modes- you can still play any mode in the key of E and it will be "in" just some will sound more in than others.

please, all you REAL theory guys, shoot me down if i'm wrong.

 

[Nick]

since the pentatonic is tension free you can use it over a lot of stuff. But if you think of it in terms of modes, the

ionian mode will work fine over major modes (maj, maj7/9/11/13, 6/9 and so on),

aeolien mode works fine with minor modes, dorian over minor ,

mixolydian over dominant stuff and works great over 11th chords,

lydian over raised 11th best is probably 6/9 raised 11th.

dorian works well over minor chords like min7,9,11,13

locrian works best over m7b5

... forgot to mention ... no locrian and lydian modes in pentatonic

 

[tjon]

i would like to be able to use the pentatonic like mike amott if any pointers to better achieve that style would be really helpfull