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".

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

http://www.worldsciencefestival.com/v...

• Category

  Science & Technology

[LagMaster55]

So, Bobby McFerrin is the first person to 'play' the audience?

[Sean Wilson]

yes, the black keys on the piano are a pentatonic scale (Eb Minor or Gb Major). However, the piano keyboard was arranged in order to look and sound intuitive to the human ear, not the other way around as you seem to be suggesting (btw I'm a jazz pianist). Ask yourself, why does removing the 4th and 7th sound good? All around the world, regardless of culture, we all seem to "get" the pentatonic scale. The reason for that lies very much in neuroscience and sociology

[Eunice China]

Hahaha this is very interesting :-)))

[WilfriedAnonymo]

i don't get it. If you do it in C (CDEGA), and the octave is te first overtone, the G is the second, the E the fourth, the D the 9th, but where does the A come in unless way way down the line? 13th i guess?

[Mandosami]

so its about natural laws of physics too.

[Mandosami]

its also the overtones played in the natural vibration of of a root C tonic :)

[0x12d3]

Couldn't help but clap at the end of the performance. Great job!

[SexyDudeSVL]

FUCKING AWESOME

[violinplayer101]

It is amazing how much the human brain can remember/ comprehend! It is a truly fascinating thing...

[pidouble145]

wow, that's big time