In this lesson, we are going to learn why it’s important to learn the pentatonic scales: A guide for beginners. Once you learn these, your playing will never be the same.
It doesn’t take long to learn the pentatonic scales on the guitar but mastering them does take a while. The reason I say this is because it is one thing to learn the scale patterns, it is another to know how to use them in the context of playing guitar.
Five pentatonic scales
The pentatonic scales can be a valuable asset to your guitar playing. They are easy to learn and are very useful in many applications. They are made up of five notes that repeat themselves over and over again. It’s a good bet that most of your favorite songs on the radio have some of these scales in them.
These are great for playing rhythm guitar. They can be used for guitar riffs as well as for creating chords and chord progressions.
But they tend to shine the most in playing lead guitar. All of the great guitar masters use these scales in their solos. The most common is the minor pentatonic scale.
The minor pentatonic scale
There are five pentatonic scale patterns you want to learn. The reason for all five is that they span the length of the fretboard and allow you to build what is known as a road map.
This “road map” will allow you to learn the note intervals (distance between two strings) on each string within each box pattern and allow you to stay in key.
One of the most common problems with playing solos on guitar with scales such as the minor pentatonic scale is playing notes that don’t sound good. By building a road map you eliminate this issue.
The Major pentatonic scale
The major pentatonic scale is also good for playing certain styles of music like pop and country. This pentatonic scale pattern is great for playing over major chord progressions.
Most pentatonic scales are good for blues and rock because of their tone quality. This is one of the reasons why they are so popular.
But as I said, they can also be used to play over a major chord progression and a minor. You just have to know how to use them to do this. This is where the “mastery” part of your question comes in.
Hammer-ons & pull-offs
Hammer-ons & pull-offs are very common techniques that are utilized when playing scales. These are techniques that need to be learned, understood, and practiced daily to be able to execute properly.
A hammer-on is when you hold down a note on a fret and hammer on to the next one. This technique is notated in music with an arc over the two notes. With the hammered note being second Very much like adding in math.
A pull-off is the opposite. You hold down two frets on a string and then pull off the second note back to the first. These are also indicated by an arc over the numbers as in the hammer-ons. This is like subtracting in math.
You can tell when looking at the notation whether it is a hammer-on or a pull-off by the numbers. In a hammer-on, the second number is larger. In a pull-off, the second number is smaller.
Slides, bends & vibrato.
Slides, bends, vibrato, etc are what bring the scales to life. Just like strumming or arpeggiated picking brings chords to life. Playing the scale by itself is not enough. You can do a lot by just playing the scale but you need to know more.
How to slide between notes, how to bend strings up, and how to add vibrato to the note. Very much like a singer does to their voice.
These are other techniques that are associated with playing the guitar. Especially when you play things such as the minor pentatonic scale. Or scales for that matter. If you’re going to learn one why not learn all five of them?
Where, when & how
You also need to know where to play them, when to play them within a song, and how to use the notes to get nice melody lines and guitar solos that sound interesting to the ear. And all this comes from daily focus and practice.
It’s not enough to just know the pentatonic scales. You need to know where they are located when you transpose to a different key. What fret does pattern three exist on in the key of G minor? How about the key of C major?
This is how you get the most out of five notes. By knowing exactly where they reside within each key you choose to play in.
Unlock the mystery
If you’d like to unlock the mystery of the minor pentatonic scales and learn how to use them more effectively in your guitar playing I recommend that you check out the guitar method book I authored and self-published,
Lead Guitar Wizardry Vol 2 will teach you the secrets of the Pentatonic scales. Licks within them and how to use them to improve your guitar playing. In addition to that, you will also unlock the mystery of the guitar modes.
You will also learn such things as:
How to play guitar solos you create yourself (your friends will be cheering for more)
Lead guitar techniques from guitar players you hear in your favorite songs
All in a modern step-by-step method that will get you playing quickly and easily.
So if you’re serious about taking your guitar playing to the next level, be sure to grab the book. Follow the lessons and see your guitar playing soar.
Lesson conclusion
Learning the pentatonic scales is a great way to improve your guitar playing. Study them, practice them daily, and watch what happens to your overall musicianship. Your understanding of a great many things will expand in a great way.
Remember also, if you need additional help I'm here for you. With over 20 years of teaching experience. Both online and in-person. I specialize in crafting customized lessons that cater to your musical journey. Even if you have no formal training.
With your interest and availability, I can tailor our lessons to suit your pace and schedule. Whether you want to dive into the basics or explore different musical styles, I can guide you every step of the way. To get your first lesson scheduled, contact me today and we can set up a Free Consultation. I look forward to helping you embark on this new and exciting adventure.
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Thanks for your time and good luck with your learning.
Sincerely, Dwayne Jenkins
