Pentatonic scales

I couldn't think of a good title for this question, so I just jump right in and see if I can frame the question successfully.

Suppose I'm playing over a 12-bar progression in A. Over the V chord in bar 9 I might do a little pentatonic run using notes from the Em pentatonic scale, like this:

e ----------------------------
B------------------------12-
G--------------12--14------
D----12--14----------------
A-----------------------------
E-----------------------------

Winding up on the B, which is the 5 of E. Say I shift the pattern down two frets and repeat it over the IV chord, this time as a Dm pentatonic, like this:

e ----------------------------
B------------------------10-
G--------------10*-12------
D----10--12----------------
A-----------------------------
E-----------------------------

Now the question: I've been told that the note I've starred (*), which is an F, the b3 of the Dm pentatonic (and the b6 of A), is a no-no in the key of A because it does not appear in the scale of A (or Am), is not diatonic to the key of A.

Is this "rule" correct? If so, why?

First, F is diatonic in A minor.

Second, playing the run in the "D box" works fine in A minor.

Third, the first run in the "E Box" doesn't work in A major or in A minor, against a V (E7). Change the G to a G# and you're good.

Remember, V chords are always dominant, never minor.

See, this is where I get confused. I was told that I shouldn't play the b3 of D over the the IV (or at all, actually, when in A), and you're saying don't play the b3 of E over the V when in A.

The confusion partly arises from if I were to say "the heck with this, I'll just use Am pentatonic scales over all three chords", I'd be playing that G a lot, but never G# or F. So is it "wrong" to do that, or just uneducated?

Well, you need to know what chords you'll be playing against. And you need to differentiate between A and Am.

For a basic blues in Am, the main chords will be i iv V7. That means Am, Dm, and E7.

For a similar progression in A, the chords will be I IV V7. That means A, D, and E7.

So in Am, you definitely want the m3 of the iv (the Dm chord). Regardless of whether it's Am or A, you don't want a m3 over the V7 chord (the E7).

Now, let me seemingly contradict myself- in some minor blues, you will find what appears to be a v chord (minor). It's not actually the v, though- it's being used as the ii of iv, but that's too complicated to get into right now. Anyway, check out "All Your Loving" from the Beano album for a textbook example of where I appear to be wrong. <g>

But you have to know what role the V7 is playing, and play accordingly. And there will be times when a quick m3 against the V7 will sound OK. But you should be able to play both, and choose phrases based on sound/feel, not muscle memory.

Anyway, I suggest learning "All Your Loving" and "Life Without You" by SRV as great examples of blues progressions that throw major and minor pentatonic opportunities at you.

I have a question...

If I'm playing a 12 bar blues in A, and I want it to sound "sad"/minor, I should then start the 1st minor pentatonic position with my index finger on the A note on the 6th string/ 5th fret as my root. Correct?

If I want it to sound "happy"/major, then I fret the same note with my pinky and play the patterns, but dont play the F#. Correct?

Do these "rules" apply when you play a 12 bar in Am?

Dean

I just found the subject on the boxes, but it doesnt address playing in A or Am. Because Am would be Am, Dm, and E. And I assume playing in A would be A, D, and E (yes, I know what they say about assume).

Dean