Exploring Form Using Minor and Major Pentatonic Scales
The activities in this lesson will build on the composition concepts introduced in the Using The Minor Pentatonic Scale lesson, and will lead students on a deeper exploration of pentatonic scales, this time examining the relationship between minor and major pentatonic scales using a variety of song forms to guide the composition process.
Listen to the full recording to hear how they developed this simple riff into an extended composition called "Desert Lights".
Outcomes:
- Students will gain an understanding of the relationship between the minor and major pentatonic scales, and will develop compositions using song forms found in traditional and popular music.
Materials:
- BANDED film clip (* from 4:35-6:54 – GBO/Defining and Solidifying Form)
- PULSE Pentatonic Scale handout
- One or a mix of the following: Manuscript paper, Notation software, a DAW
- Preferred instrument
INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITY IDEAS
1. If needed, review material about the minor pentatonic scale and the ideas for writing melodies introduced in Lesson 1.
2. Introduce students to the major pentatonic scale. Compare the relative and parallel major and minor pentatonic scales.
E minor and G major pentatonic are considered to be “relative” scales because they contain the same notes. The difference is in which note is functioning as the root of the scale.
E Minor Pentatonic Scale
Relative Major:
G Major Pentatonic Scale
Parallel Major:
E Major Pentatonic Scale
3. After exploring the above material, view the clip from BANDED that features the members of the Ghost Box Orchestra discussing their approach to developing the form of their composition with mentor teacher Prince Charles Alexander.
4. After viewing the clip, discuss the following:
a. Song forms are generally made up of a number of different sections that may or may not be repeated. How does the GBO describe the form of their song?
b. What kind of terminology do they use to describe the form of their composition?
5. Introduce students to common song forms found in traditional and popular music.
a. Typically, letters are assigned to different sections of a song, and repeated sections are assigned to the same letter. Some common song forms to discuss are as follows (links below require a PULSE login):
b. Have students listen to and analyze the form of Lowdown and Aquasordido, two original PULSE grooves in contrasting styles made specifically for this lesson.
- For more tunes check out the PULSE Song Library. If appropriate, students can also suggest songs for analysis.
Lesson Closing
6. View and discuss the goals for the composition project located in the downloadable PDF below:
Download the "Exploring Form using Minor and Major Pentatonic Scales" complete lesson with project details.
