Guitar lesson: Extended Pentatonic Scale

Extended Pentatonic Scale Scale Extensions
Almost every single note on the guitar can be played in multiple places on the
guitar. The exact same note can be played on different strings on different
frets. For instance, look at all the places where you can play the exact same
high E:

E |--0--------------------------|
B |-----5-----------------------|
G |---------9-------------------|
D |------------14---------------|
A |----------------19-----------|
E |-----------------------------|

This has big implications for scales and soloing. If you can play each note in
several places on the fretboard, then you can play whole scales in different
places on the fretboard too. A scale is just a collection of notes. Here is the
minor pentatonic scale that we have been working with extended to the whole
standard fretboard:

Key= A
Minor Pentatonic Scale

E |------3----5-------8------10----12---------15----|
B |------3----5-------8------10--------13-----15----|
G |---2-------5----7------9--------12-----14--------|
D |---2-------5----7---------10----12-----14--------|
A |------3----5----7---------10----12---------15----|
E |------3----5-------8------10----12---------15----|

These are the same notes we have been working with in the basic minor pentatonic
scale. Above we have simply extended the scale to include the duplicate notes
and their octaves across the fretboard. Keep in mind that this scale is not the
same as the combination of major and minor scales introduced earlier. This is an
extension of the minor pentatonic only.



Hand Positions
This whole scale is too much information to think about all at once. Lots of
players find it easier to break the scale up into chunks based on the places
where it is convenient to move your hand. Below is the fully extended standard
minor pentatonic scale divided into 5 hand positions. You should recognize all
of position 1 and part of position 2 already.

Key= A
Position: 1             2                 3
E |-------5-------8---| |-----8----10---| |-----10----12-----|
B |-------5-------8---| |-----8----10---| |-----10-------13--|
G |-------5----7------| |--7----9-------| |--9--------12-----|
D |-------5----7------| |--7-------10---| |-----10----12-----|
A |-------5----7------| |--7-------10---| |-----10----12-----|
E |-------5-------8---| |-----8----10---| |-----10----12-----|

Position: 4             5                 5 (one octave down)
E |-------12------15--| |-----15----17--| |-----3----5-------|
B |----------13---15--| |-----15----17--| |-----3----5-------|
G |-------12---14-----| |--14-------17--| |--2-------5-------|
D |-------12---14-----| |--14-------17--| |--2-------5-------|
A |-------12------15--| |-----15----17--| |-----3----5-------|
E |-------12------15--| |-----15----17--| |-----3----5-------|

Notice how position 5 is both up at the top of the fretboard and at the bottom
of the fretboard below position 1? That happens because every 12 frets the whole
thing repeats itself. Fret 15 always equals fret 3 one octave higher, fret 17
always equals fret 5 one octave higher. Now here below is the total extended
scale presented to you again so that you can diligently practice it until you
remember it by heart (this could take years):


Key= A
Pos:  5       1       2       3     4
E |------3----5-------8------10----12---------15----|
B |------3----5-------8------10--------13-----15----|
G |---2-------5----7------9--------12-----14--------|
D |---2-------5----7---------10----12-----14--------|
A |------3----5----7---------10----12---------15----|
E |------3----5-------8------10----12---------15----|

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