World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale

Bobby McFerrin demonstrates the power of the pentatonic scale, using audience participation, at the event "Notes & Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus", from the 2009 World Science Festival, June 12, 2009.

For related content, please view the full "Notes & Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus" program at our website:

http://www.worldsciencefestival.com/video/notes-neurons-full

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Bobby McFerrin
• World Science Festival
• pentatonic scale
• Jamshed Bharucha
• Daniel Levitin
• Lawrence Parsons
• John Schaefer

[dimomid]

A group of random people, regardless of their race, religion or gender, hArmonized beautifully!!! Humanity, there is HOPE!

[awesomeiguy]

funnyjunk?

[destaniofhearts]

@dimomid couldn't have said it better, friend.

[otharennaur]

I tried this today on my mom... and worked! she sing terribly... Then I modified it to help a friend of mine study the pentatonic scale. AND IT WORKED!!!!!

[Noggin145]

I cant stop listening to the bit at 1:18 when he starts improvising, that melody he sings is just so incredible to my ears..

[JasonGrae]

Applauding in my home right along with everyone else!



[mebbio]

@Premonitor ahah :-) you're right....After saying "ohh", you start analyzing, classifying, trying to understand, and the magic disappears, but then you're ready for a new "ohh" on a new experience. This shift between heart and brain never ends :-)

[Premonitor]

@mebbio thanks for ruining the magic of this vid :D

[vvhoopie]

Oh Bobby...your talents precede you, and will long succeed you when you've left us in musical confusion.

[wawa03238]

Was I the only one who sang along?

[khalilchatoo]

Lmao Dats Prty Kool Cuz Hes Blaq N Not In Jayl..??

[mebbio]

@mgpisces Good reply! Actually the video is misleading: when the audience guesses the "E", attention is redirected on the "guessing note" question: is the audience guessing the next note of the melody in the "pentatonic way". The answer is "no: Bobby prepared everything". But you pointed to another direction and another problem: "try on another scale, and you'll verify that somewhere audiences will make a mess of the melody. This happens nowhere with pentatonic scale." Right?