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

[EngNaruSuks]

I woulda totally fucked that up if I was in the audience.

[dimomid]

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

[MaIpractice]

deedledee deedee

baabaa baba

[TheAgentpendrgast]

@zozoh it really has nothing to do with sophistication and more to do with song writing being done using the circle of fifths. If you've studied any musical composition it frequently revolves around five hence why the pentatonic scale is so ingrained in the collective consciousness of humans as a species.

[Artie0293e09]

I had shoes like that once.

[FinCroweman]

@dimomid there is dope

[zozoh]

this shows that the majority of the population is so used to hearing songs revolving only around 5 musical notes (penta in pentatonic meaning 5) where there are 7 notes (do, re, mi... ti) even most rock and metal artists only use pentatonics, which is why many songs may sound alike when put into perspective, more sphisticated music may sound cacophonic to the common music listenier

[NurulAshzlar]

Is he singing a song or just making something up? If it's a song, please let me know what it is!

[NorCalKnut]

My vocal teacher's vocal teacher was Bobby's mom Sarah back in the day. Yay for me! I scored!

[837301]

@loginsraulr It sounds so familiar.

[Incapace0]

GRANDISSSSSSIMO!