Cool major pentatonic licks in E on harmonica

This lesson looks at some licks using the major pentatonic scale in 2nd position. You will need a harmonica in the key of A and this means you will be playing in the key of E.

The backing track that I have provided is not a traditional blues. Instead it is what is known as a vamp. This is a repeating chordal phrase. In this case we are jumping between an A chord and an E chord.

Major pentatonic scale

The major pentatonic scale is not the blues scale. They are very similar with some important differences. If you don’t know how to play the major pentatonic scale. Just go to my lesson on it – The major pentatonic scale.

Develop phrases

You will hear that each phrase leads into the next one. This is a good exercise in improvisation. If you follow up a phrase with a new one including some of the original one it makes for something that is more musically coherent. You should definitely practice doing this with your own phrases!