Originally Posted by: xpayxphonex
E maj chord - E min pentatonic-works even though notes don't fully match( major 3rd and minor 3rd)
E min chord - E maj pentatonic-Does not work. Why does min pentatonic work over a maj chord yet the reverse of that doesn't work.

E minor pent works over the E maj chord because the b3 of the minor pent produces the blues note for a major chord ( major blues scale = 1, 2, b3, 5, b7). The b7 produces a dominant function to the E major chord.

E major pent over a E minor chords doesn't work because of the grouping of notes, around the harmonies very important 3rd.

E minor chord = E, G, B
E major pent = E, F#, G#, B, D

Put them together and u have a cluster : F#, G, and G#.

Thats why it doesnt work.