Soloing over "Sunny": Level 1 Minor Pentatonic
- ryanboisselle
- Sep 1
- 3 min read
So the idea of just "making stuff up" over a chord progression can feel overwhelming. What scale should you use? How do you know if you're playing the "right" notes?
This blog is for you.
In this 3-part video series, I’m going to walk you through a few different approaches soloing over "Sunny"—a tune that shows up a lot at jam sessions, especially the funkier ones. This series is going to be aimed at not only the budding beginners who are looking to get their solo game up, but also the iching intermediate players who want to play those scales to turn heads.
And in Part 1, we’re keeping things simple and effective by starting with just one scale:
A Minor Pentatonic.
🎶 Why the A Minor Pentatonic?
A lot of players think they need to know a ton of theory before they can start improvising. But here’s the truth:
You can start with just the minor pentatonic scale.
It’s easy to navigate, and every note sounds good. This allows you to focus on groove and phrasing—two things that will take you much further in jam sessions than complicated scales ever will.
In this video, I use an extended A minor pentatonic pattern—not just the typical “box 1” shape that most people learn first.
This extended shape gives you more room to move across the fretboard, which can help your phrases feel less boxed-in and more expressive, even if you’re still using the same five notes.
🌶️ Add Some Flavor: Blue Notes
Even if you’re sticking to the minor pentatonic scale, there’s still room to add some color—and that’s where blue notes come in.
Blue notes—especially the flat 5—bring a little bit of grit, tension, and bluesy character to your phrases. They aren’t technically part of the minor pentatonic, but they sit close enough that you can reach for them and create a strong emotional effect.
In the video, I touch on the idea of slipping in blue notes as a way to spice things up. When used intentionally and with good phrasing, they can give your solo a soulful, expressive edge without needing to switch to a whole new scale.
Just don’t overdo it. Blue notes are like seasoning—a little goes a long way.
📚 Want Better Phrasing? Steal Some First.
If you’re not sure how to come up with good phrases—or your solos tend to wander without direction—here’s something that works every time:
Learn from real examples.
The best way to understand phrasing, space, repetition, and movement is by studying solos that already sound good. That’s how you build your vocabulary—just like learning a language.
So here’s what I recommend:
Download the PDF of my solo from the video
Play through it slowly and get the feel of each phrase
Try copying the rhythm, spacing, and dynamics
Then… start making little changes of your own
This kind of focused imitation is one of the fastest ways to improve. You’ll start to recognize what makes a phrase land well—and then you’ll be able to create your own.
Start by speaking the language before trying to write poetry with it.
✨ Want Some Help Developing Your Solos?
If you’re just starting out—or you’ve been stuck in the same patterns for a while—I’d love to help.
I teach private and group guitar lessons in Tokyo (Takadanobaba), and I specialize in helping players build real-world soloing skills for jazz, funk, & R&B. Lessons are available in English, Japanese, or both.
Whether you’re looking to prep for your first jam session or just want to finally feel comfortable soloing, I’ll help you get there—step by step.
Let’s make it groove. See you in Part 2! 🎸
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