noticingthemistake - I couldn't agree with you more. That's the way I started (and learned). Never took a lesson in my life (been playing 21 years - many bands). The "pattern" I was referring to is just the basic "pentatonic" box style used in a million rock songs. The same notes (in the pattern) can be used in any key. I was just stating that it's good to know where (on the fretboard) the "E" notes (pattern} as compared to an "A". Helps a guitarist manuever up and down the fretboard without thinking if s/he's in key or not.