Improvisation — pop in F, relative scale New

Level 3 pop ~100 BPM

The F-C-Dm-Am progression is in F major, but the D minor pentatonic scale contains exactly the same notes: this is the relative scale trick, letting you improvise over a major song with a minor shape you already know.

Tips

The anchor point changes here: it's no longer the scale's own root that sounds resolved, but the notes of whichever chord is currently playing. Try ending phrases on a note of the F chord to firmly ground the improvisation in the major key.

Chord progression — F

Bar 1 F I
Bar 2 C V
Bar 3 Dm vi
Bar 4 Am iii

Fretboard position

Pentatonique Ré mineur — pos. 1 Pentatonique Ré mineur — pos. 1 10

root note other scale note

Chords

Related sheets

Same scale, another key