Jazz Vibes Lesson: Advanced Level Pentatonics!

Ah, the pentatonic scale. It's one of the best ways to start improvising - guitar players learn it almost immediately when they start improvising. But there is so much more to the pentatonic scale than just the five notes every learns at the beginning.
There are in fact many different types of pentatonic scales - in this video I explain 6 of them. They are:
1) The Major Pentatonic
2) The 'Flat 3' pentatonic
3) The 'Flat 2' pentatonic
4) The 'flat 5' pentatonic
5) the 'flat 6' pentatonic
I went through each of these and show you how they fit over many different chords.
I also demonstrated how you can use these concepts as applied to modal tunes like 'So What' (Miles Davis), or more slippery tunes - like 'E.S.P.' by Wayne Shorter.
Jazz improvisation is always about learning new ways to dissect the harmonic language, and pentatonics are a great way to organize your lines.
I've also included some technical exercises specific to the vibraphone, but you could of course try them on other instruments.
The Bobby McFerrin video I mention at the beginning is here:
• Bobby McFerrin Demonst...
You can find sheet music and jazz etudes at my website: www.timcollinsm...
YES Skype lessons are available :)
I love hearing from people in the comments! If you like what I do, please subscribe and spread the word.
I upload a new video every week (usually on Wednesday).
Enjoy and happy practicing!
-Tim

[@rodrigocantujazz]

this has been very helpful, im applying this with xylophone, regards from mexico...

[@larrytrincia1738]

Tim, once again, your videos enlighten. You have a knack at making complex topics more manageable. So much to practice. Thank you for the time you put into these instructions.

[@jesusquero9006]

I speak Spanish Very well: " Estimado Tim muchísimas gracias, me haz ayudado bastante, quizás me mudé pronto para Alemánia, cerca de Munich, en Brunnenstraß, espero conocertele, saludos

[@insidejazzguitar8112]

Really good! C maj pent on D- and then Db maj pent on G7 in a II V is a great idea!

[@georgevorres5240]

I can say as a bass player that your videos are for any instrument,not only for vibes

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Thanks!

[@ValirAmaril]

Thank you! I'm a tenor sax player, but I keep coming back to your lessons.

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Glad you enjoy them!

[@KarlJosefUnterkofler]

Great, again! Unbelievable! Thanks Tim.

[@davidhall1297]

Great stuff Tim! I'm digging back into jazz vibes and this very helpful. I'm a subscriber now also!

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Are you the David Hall who attended Ithaca College?

[@davidhall1297]

@@TimCollinsVibes Yes!

[@williamwingert2340]

Can you do a video on how to learn all the different chords a single pentatonic scale can be used for? How do you break it down to start to remember in the moment which sound can go where? Maybe that's the way, just by the sounds of the combinations? Thanks!

[@24111949]

Tim Thx this video is a Lot of Inspiration for my student to practice thank you very much for your Passion to do this Kind of videos ...

[@ditschnluis1]

Great one again, so much more to practice again!! ;)

[@carlosmanueltomebatista9894]

Excelente Tim, muchas gracias por darnos informaciones geniales.

[@sparkspark833]

I don't play vibes. This is a great lesson.

[@procrast]

great as usual, thank you so much!

[@mikeszwedo193]

Great stuff ! Now to learn this in all 12 keys.

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Exactly!

[@wormtownpaul]

Great stuff. Do you have a pdf or a book that shows the sticking for these? I can follow much, but not all.

[@nrauschermusic]

Hello Tim! I am a young vibraphonist in the US and I recently got super into your videos. I was wondering, it seems like the C-b5-pentatonic scale would also be compatible with Bbmaj7(#5), right? Anyways, I love advanced pentatonics and your explanations show a slightly different approach than what I've learned in the past which is rad!

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Hi Nathan- glad you enjoy the videos! You’re right, the Cb5 pentatonic would also work over Bbmaj7(#5). Thanks for catching the omission!

[@joetorres9347]

Hi Tim. Your videos are great but as previous commenters said, a lot to learn.

[@michaeldumas4907]

thank you very much Tim...may I ask what song that was at 7:38?...you said the rest was really hard...just curious

[@TimCollinsVibes]

That’s E.S.P. By Wayne Shorter

[@michaeldumas4907]

Thanks Tim...I like your lessons..

[@CK-gq3jf]

I just discovered your channel, you have great stuff! Thoughts on b1 pentatonic? Bm(no5), Em7, Dsus, G69, etc...

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Thanks! So you mean B,D,E,G,A correct? I think of that as an inversion of the G major pentatonic scale. There are so many different ways to think about these sets of notes - that's why I like them..

[@LarrySiden]

How do you choose these scales? How do you match them with reach chord you played.

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Well - that's probably something for a whole other video :) but if you are playing a song that makes use of any of those chord types, you could approach soloing over those chords with these pentatonic ideas. For example, on 'Inner Urge', you could use the pentatonic "C D E F# A" over the F#min7b5 chord at the beginning.

[@tepoztlan-osbornemusic6658]

I dont get it. A pentatonic is made up of pure whole steps and sometimes a minor third. You have half steps in your pentatonic scales.

[@TimCollinsVibes]

The word ‘pentatonic’ simply means ‘five tones’. In theory, they could be any five tones. When most people say ‘pentatonic’ what they usually mean is the ‘major pentatonic’ which consists of whole steps and a minor third as you said.