Among the countless scales spanning the guitar neck, the pentatonic scales stand out as absolutely essential. Pentatonics like the minor pentatonic are fundamental building blocks used across nearly all genres of guitar music for crafting melodies, licks, riffs, and searing solo runs.
If you want to boost your knowledge of the fretboard, improve improvisational skills, and expand your vocabulary of guitar licks, thoroughly learning the pentatonic patterns is a must. Let’s break down exactly how to play these crucial scales.
The 5 Pentatonic Patterns
The pentatonic scale gets its name from having five notes within one octave. On guitar, due to the tuning in fourths between adjacent strings, we organize the scale into five movable patterns each covering two to three frets.
The patterns are often referred to by the CAGED acronym based on the open chord shapes they outline:
C Shape: Lowest note on 6th string, pattern covers 5 frets
A Shape: Lowest note on 5th string, pattern covers 2 frets
G Shape: Lowest note on 6th string, pattern covers 2 frets
E Shape: Lowest note on 1st string, pattern covers 2 frets
D Shape: Lowest note on 4th string, pattern covers 3 frets
It’s essential to memorize each pattern individually first. Start with the E and A shapes on the top two strings. Then add the C, G, and D shapes. Say each note out loud identifying string and fret.
Once each CAGED shape is familiar separately, practice connecting them across the neck. For example, play the open E shape then continue into the A shape pattern. Understanding how the shapes interlock unlocks the entire fretboard.
Minor Pentatonic vs Major Pentatonic
While there are other types of pentatonic scales, minor and major are the most essential for guitarists. Let’s examine how they differ:
Minor Pentatonic: 1 – b3 – 4 – 5 – b7
Major Pentatonic: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 – 6
The minor pentatonic uses the 1, flattened 3rd, 4th, 5th, and flattened 7th scale degrees. This gives it a bluesier, sadder sound. Minor pentatonic is the most widely used scale in rock and blues genres.
Meanwhile, the major pentatonic includes the 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. Having the major 3rd gives it a happier, brighter feel. Major pentatonic works well for country, pop, and folk styles.
Memorize each scale’s distinct sound. They may share some notes but produce very different moods. Outlining chord progressions using relative major or minor is a great way to learn them.
Playing Pentatonics in Different Keys
Once the patterns are learned, we can move them across the fretboard to play in various keys. The root notes are what shift position. Here are some examples:
E minor pentatonic = Open position E shape
A minor pentatonic = 5th fret E shape
C minor pentatonic = 8th fret E shape
No matter what key you play the scale in, the intervals and patterns remain identical. Simply start the scale on a different root note. Eventually, you visualize scales and patterns without counting frets.
Using Pentatonics for Licks, Riffs, and Solos
Pentatonic scales give us the raw materials to build guitar vocabulary. Here are some of their many uses:
Licks – Short melodic phrases you can use to craft solos. Example: Play the 8-5 hammer-on lick on each string sliding into it.
Riffs – Chugging rhythmic lines using pentatonic fragments. Think of classic rock riffs.
Solos – Improvise freely using scale tones over backing tracks. Tell a melodic story!
Bending/Slides – Add expressiveness with pentatonic bends and slides between scale degrees.
Make the scale your own through phrasing. Noodle daily with pentatonics developing chops.
Adding Color Notes
While pentatonic scales are versatile, we can add extra flavor by infusing “color tones” for more advanced sounds:
Minor Pentatonic: Add the b2 “blue note” and natural 6 “purple note”
Major Pentatonic: Add the natural 4 “sus4” and natural 7 “leading tone”
By painstakingly targeting these non-scale tones, we create tension and dissonance. Used tastefully, color notes bring new moods.
Music Theory Context
How do pentatonics relate to parent major and minor scales?
- Minor pentatonic derives from the natural minor scale, sharing the 1, b3, 4, 5, b7.
- Major pentatonic derives from the major scale, sharing the 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6.
Pentatonics simplify the parent scales into “safe” easy-to-use patterns. Understanding this relationship lets us eventually incorporate the full major or minor scales.
We also often play pentatonics over modal chord progressions. The minor pentatonic works great over Dorian and Mixolydian-based chord progressions due to shared modal scale tones.
Useful Pentatonic Exercises
Here are some great ways to practice ingraining those pentatonic shapes:
- Play each pattern ascending/descending using alternate picking across two strings
- Combine patterns together up the neck and back
- Pick each note of the pattern individually, repeating the whole scale
- Move one pattern shape through all 12 keys
- Use pentatonics to solo over backing tracks, jam tracks or real songs
15-30 minutes daily practicing scales this way builds tremendous fretboard confidence quickly.
Start Making Music With Pentatonics
In summary, the pentatonic scales are an essential gateway into lead guitar playing. Unlock their potential by thoroughly learning each pattern across the neck. Combine them fluidly. Infuse them into your vocabulary through licks, riffs and solos.
The possibilities are endless when you have these sounds ingrained. Playing pentatonics will hugely expand your musical expressivity. Take the time to woodshed these patterns using proper technique. The musical rewards will be immense.
Now grab your guitar and start practicing those pentatonic shapes! Apply them to real songs and jams right away. Let your inner guitar hero out by soloing with these fundamental scales.
FAQ: Common Pentatonic Guitar Questions
How many pentatonic scale patterns are there on guitar?
There are 5 distinct CAGED minor pentatonic patterns that connect to cover the whole fretboard, plus 5 patterns for major pentatonic. Memorize each pattern individually at first.
What’s the main difference between minor and major pentatonic scales?
The major pentatonic uses the 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 scale degrees giving it a brighter, happier sound. The minor pentatonic uses the 1, b3, 4, 5, b7 degrees giving it a bluesier, sadder sound.
What are some sample licks or riffs using the minor pentatonic scale?
The minor pentatonic is essential for crafting classic rock riffs and blues licks. Try ideas like the 8-5 hammer-on pull-off lick, sliding into notes, and bending. Make the scale your own through phrasing!
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