Using notes that are contained within chords you are playing over is a great alternative to the minor pentatonic scale. It also guarantees that the notes you choose will 'fit' with the backing chords.

In my last column, I presented a shuffle rhythm pattern for a standard 12-bar blues in the key of G, with some inversions of dominant 7th chords that had the 3rd, 5th or 7th in the bass instead of ...