Exotic Pentatonic Scales: Kumoi
Exotic Pentatonic Scales: Kumoi
By Rob Thorpe
This free Exotic pentatonic scales lesson is an extract from my new book
Progressive Metal Guitar, which covers several exotic pentatonic scales and
unusual scales as well as many other topics to develop all aspects of your metal
guitar playing.
Although we tend to think of the Pentatonic scale as the 1 b3 4 5 b7 of the blues,
any group of five notes is a Pentatonic scale. Studies of Indian and Far-Eastern
musical traditions reveal that just about any combination of pitches has already
been explored by one musical culture or another. Several of these exotic
pentatonic scales are used in the guitar styles of Marty Friedman, Jason Becker and
Steve Vai.
I encourage you to perform your own musical experiments to discover more for
yourself. Try taking a seven note scale and remove any two notes to create many
different groups of five notes to explore
‘Kumoi’ Pentatonic scale
We’ll focus on just one of many exotic pentatonic scales in this lesson, known in
Japanese music as the Kumoi or Hirajoshi scale. The formula is 1 2 b3 5 b6. It can
be more user-friendly to see it as a truncated version of the familiar D Natural
Minor scale. Whatever way you choose to look at it, the wider intervals combined
with the semitones brings out a distinctly oriental sound not present in the western
Pentatonic scale.
Exotic pentatonic scales Example 1
The semitones make fingering the D Kumoi scale with alternating groups of two
and three notes per string the easiest option. However, as an interesting blend of
the exotic with the familiar it’s arranged into two- note-per-string groups below
which allows you to apply your favourite Pentatonic patterns easily to the new
scale.
As a result, some of the shapes can, at first, be a little awkward to get your fingers
around. Here we have a typical Zakk Wylde ascending Pentatonic run, albeit with
the exotic flavour of the Kumoi scale.
Exotic pentatonic scales Example 2
Next is another take on the same idea but this time moving across the strings in
one position. You could alternate pick the whole lick for an abrasive sound, but the
hammer-on between the first of each group of six notes varies the texture, as well
as simplifying the picking.
Exotic pentatonic scales Example 3
As well as learning exotic pentatonic scales such as Kumoi, you could also try
adding an extra note to the minor pentatonic. Listen to Gary Moore’s very melodic
ballad style to hear the natural 2nd being added to his blues licks. This subtle
change gives them a very rich and majestic texture.
For more exotic pentatonic scales, substitutions and symmetrical scales as well as
much more, check out my new book, Progressive Metal Guitar.
Recommended Listening:
Marty Friedman – Skin of my Teeth
Jason Becker – Perpetual Burn
Steve Vai – Freak Show Excess