Agility, riffs and runs · Intermediate · Pop and R&B, Gospel
Pentatonic run down
Most pop and gospel runs live on the major pentatonic (1 2 3 5 6). This one falls from the top, the most common shape in R&B riffs.
How to do it
- Learn the shape slowly on "oh".
- Every note clear, none skipped.
- Speed up only when it sounds even.
Remember Clean before fast.
| Numbers | 1′ 6 5 3 2 1 6‚ 1 1′ 6 5 3 2 1 6‚ 1 |
|---|---|
| Sargam | Ṡ D P G R S Ḍ S Ṡ D P G R S Ḍ S |
| Solfa | do la sol mi re do la do do la sol mi re do la do |
| Notes | G E D B A G E G G E D B A G E G |
| Sung on | oh – – – – – – – oh – – – – – – – |
Where it comes from
- Dots Singing: pentatonic descending riffs
- Pattern: NSM original
More agility, riffs and runs
Fast five, twice
Fast notes need a still jaw and a steady breath; the notes move, nothing else does.
EE and AH runs
Switching vowel on every note makes the tongue move while the throat stays still: the coordination fast runs need..
Blues run
The minor pentatonic with the blue note (the sharpened 4th).
Turns on every step
A turn (above, home, below, home) on each note of the scale.