Hi Guys,

I've been playing piano about 1 year but I've been studying music for a few years now. I hope to take my Rockschool Grade 3 exam in November and I'm currently trying to get acquainted with improvising over the ABRSM Grade 1 tunes.

I would like to practice the major and minor Pentatonic Scales but I can't work out a decent fingering for G and F (and other simple pentatonic scales). Does anyone know if the ABRSM Jazz Scales book includes fingerings for Major & Minor Pentatonics in all keys? What about the Major Scale modes?

I bought the ABRSM Scales book last year but there is no mention of Melodic Minor or Major Scale Modes or Pentatonics so it was a it of a waste.

Hope to hear from someone,
Thanks,

Rob.

I'd ask my piano teacher. My lessons cost less than 3 packets of cigarettes, I have them once a fortnight and they dont give me lung cancer.
Its well worth it

Cheers Wombat66 (if that is your real name ... ) but my teacher is a classical nut who didn't know words like Dorian or Mixolydian so I don't really trust her when it comes to jazz but she's great for hammering technique and sight-reading practice into me so I'm gaining alot from her.

My main source of jazz info are books and this forum. I'm very ... very ... slowely getting there. I hope to take an ABRSM grade sometime this year (1 or 2).

Thakns again for the reply.

Rob.

Hi Rob

I have the ABRSM Jazz scales book grades 1-5.
It does indeed cover pentatonics and modal scales. It also has blues scales. They are all fingered. However, it is only 20 pages & does'nt cover all keys, just the more common ones! Noetheless, I'm sure it would keep you busy for a while.

As a taster...
Major pentatonic on G (2 octaves)

Right hand
UP. . . . . . . . . . . . .DOWN
G A B D E G A B D E G E D B A G E D B A G
1 2 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 3 5 3 2 1 2 1 3 2 1 2 1
OR
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1

Left hand
UP. . . . . . . . . . . . .DOWN
G A B D E G A B D E G E D B A G E D B A G
5 4 3 1 3 1 4 3 1 3 1 2 1 3 4 1 3 1 2 3 4
OR
5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5

Hope this helps... If so, get a copy & enjoy
Chris J.

Hey Chris,

Thanks for taking the time to right out those fingerings. As it happens, my copy arrived in the post yesterday and, as you mention, not all scales are described, but enough to keep me busy and to get an idea of the fingerings for scales which are omitted.

I was glad to be the Blues and Chromatic scales are also included.

At least it will see me through the first few grades.

Thanks again,

Rob.

Rob

Glad you like the scales book.
I have been playing classical piano for some time (although not very well), but have only recently started with jazz. Have you seen www.learnjazzpiano.com? Lots of help & advice available there.

Chris