Minor Pentatonic Scale Pt. 1

First let's break down the first half of the minor pentatonic scale.

We'll start with our index finger in the 5th fret of the low E-string. Then we're going to play the 8th fret of the same string with our pinky. Next we're going to jump to the A-string and play the 5th fret with our index finger, followed by the 7th fret, played with our ring finger.

Next up we'll do exactly the same on the D-string. Let's leave it at that for right now and practice first going up the scale, and then down the scale.

As always the goal is to try to keep your fingers from flailing all over the place. So just take it slowly and try to keep them in place as much as possible.

Finally let's try and alternate between a downstroke in our picking hand and an upstroke. We'll do that for every string.

Once we've reached the top, we'll pick the highest note again and come back down with the same picking pattern.

Even though we haven't covered the letter names of any notes yet you may be able to hear that we've landed on a higher octave of the same note we started on. That means we only have 5 notes in this scale. That's why it's called pentatonic, the prefix 'penta-' meaning five.

After that the notes repeat in a higher octave, which you'll learn in the next lesson.

Instructor Anders Mouridsen
Tutorial:
The Minor Pentatonic Scale
Styles:
Any Style
Difficulty:
Minor Pentatonic Scale Pt. 1 song notation

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Questions & Answers

2 weeks ago
Hey Anders, Why not cover the note letter names. Having them printed on the lesson notation would he helpful for me in learning the notes on the fretboard and even more so in visualizing the patterns of the scale as it moves up and down the fretboard.
Mike Olekshy 1 week ago

Hello - thanks so much for your suggestion! We do have some additional resources on GuitarTricks that cover the note names. 1) Please check out the Scale Finder located in the Toolbox section of the site. If you select Am pentatonic Pattern 2 - you'll get the scale pattern Anders is teaching. Next, toggle the small drop down menu located at the bottom right from DISPLAY SCALE STEPS to DISPLAY NOTES. Here's a link: https://www.guitartricks.com/scale-finder 2) Check out the Fretboard Trainer, also located in the Toolbox section of GuitarTricks. This is a great way to learn the note names across the fretboard: https://www.guitartricks.com/fretboard-trainer Hope this helps!

2 months ago
Why are these played starting at the 5th fret rather than playing the notes as usual? Eg from start: open A string, 3rd fret A string, open D string, 2nd fret D string, open G string, etc...?
Mike Olekshy 2 months ago

Hello - thanks for your question! The guitar is unique in that the exact same notes can be played in different spots on the fretboard. In this case, we are learning the A minor pentatonic scale pattern in the 5th position. You've described the A minor pentatonic scale pattern that is located in open position. They are the same notes! Hope this helps!

3 months ago
Hi, When I count down, I go until 6. How come is it 5? Is it because the 6th is a shared note going back?
Mike Olekshy 3 months ago

Hello - thanks so much for your question! Starting from the 7th fret of the D string, when you count down, you'll reach 5 for the note on the 8th fret of the low string. Those are the 5 unique notes of the Pentatonic scale. The next note down - at the 5th fret of the low string - is the same note (A) you started on, just an octave lower, so we don't count that again. Hope that makes sense!!

7 months ago
Hi, if you could give me a tip on this please. As I move through the scale/notes on this I am getting a buzzing on the strings. I haven't had that in any of the previous lessons, so not sure where I am going wrong now? Thanks
Mike Olekshy 7 months ago

Hello Rosanna - thanks for your question! You'll need to experiment with your finger placement to eliminate the buzzing. The goal is for each note to sound clean and clear - free of buzz. You may have to adjust your thumb placement behind the neck as you move through the scale - it is okay if the thumb moves a little while playing through. Try to get your fingers coming on to each fret as perpendicular as you can, and with enough pressure to make a clean, buzz-free note. Play through the scale nice and slow, focussing on these aspects. Keep at it - it will come!