Originally Posted by: CSchlegelThey were developed in order to achieve a particular sound. As with all scales, we as musicians are interested in how the result sounds. The major and minor pentatonic scales were essentially "derived" (actually organized) from the diatonic scales historically after the fact in order to have two complimentary derivative scales that use the same pattern but with different scale degrees in the positions of the pattern.[/QUOTE]

Alright, I just wanted to make sure. I don't have a problem with arbitrary stuff, I just like to know that's what it is so I don't try and keep seeing patterns in it :)

Originally Posted by: CSchlegelSo, in major the 4th and major 7th scale degrees are avoided. And in minor the 2nd and minor 6th scale degrees are avoided. And look at the patterns to see that those all match which scales degrees are avoided in both patterns. Make sense?

Yup! Where I was getting caught up was that I was just looking at the C major and A minor. Since they're both the same notes and all the natural notes it was messing me up.

[QUOTE=CSchlegel]Yes! Keep the pattern the same and move it up and down the fretboard. Where ever the root note is (the circled number one) that is the root note of the scale and gives the scale it's name.

NO! The circled numbers represent the scale degrees. This is the most important part of the visualizing method I am teaching. Those numbers represent the interval distance from the root note. They are the very reason why any given scale sounds like it does; why they all have their own unique sound. Or conversely, why all major scales (or minor, etc.) have a similar sound just slightly higher or lower in pitch.

Hope this helps. Let us know.

Thank you very much :) It's actually making sense now, hehe. I sat down with some blank fret paper and worked out all the scales and whatnot myself as well which helped alot in visualizing it. Now I just have to memorize the shapes themselves.

Thank you very much for the info, a huge help, and I love your lessons, been working through them :)

Take it easy!
Dave