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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Guitar Lesson: Extended Major Pentatonic Scale

Extended Major Pentatonic ScaleMore Scale Extensions
This section won't make a lot of sense unless you have already read the
  pentatonic scale
  major pentatonic scale
  extended pentatonic scale

Please go read those sections first. Without some background information, this
will look like a big complicated mess and won't teach you very much.




The Extended Major Pentatonic Scale
We know that we can play the same pentatonic scale in two different positions
during a song to get two different effects out of one set of tricks. Since we
are working in the key of A, here are the two scales that can be used for A:

Key= A
Minor Pentatonic                      Major Pentatonic

E |-----5---------8------10-------|E |-----2---------5------7--------|
B |-----5---------8------10-------|B |-----2---------5------7--------|
G |-----5-----7------9------------|G |-----2-----4------6------------|
D |-----5-----7-------------------|D |-----2-----4-------------------|
A |-----5-----7-------------------|A |-----2-----4-------------------|
E |-----5--------8----------------|E |-----2--------5----------------|

We also know that the pentatonic scale can be extended to cover the whole
fretboard:

Key= A
Extended Minor Pentatonic

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----|



Then it stands to reason that the major pentatonic can also be extended to cover
the whole fretboard:

Key= A major
Extended Major Pentatonic

Position      1       2      3     4          5
E |------0----2-------5------7-----9----------12---14---|
B |------0----2-------5------7---------10-----12---14---|
G |-----------2----4------6--------9------11-------14---|
D |-----------2----4---------7-----9------11-------14---|
A |------0----2----4---------7-----9----------12---14---|
E |------0----2-------5------7-----9----------12---14---|



Here are the 5 hand positions for the extended major pentatonic.

Key= A major
Extended Major Pentatonic

Position: 1      2               3                
E |--2-------5-| |-----5----7--| |----7----9-----| 
B |--2-------5-| |-----5----7--| |----7------10--| 
G |--2----4----| |--4-----6----| |-6-------9-----| 
D |--2----4----| |--4-------7--| |----7----9-----|
A |--2----4----| |--4-------7--| |----7----9-----|
E |--2-------5-| |-----5----7--| |----7----9-----|

  4              5
E |--9------12-| |----12---14--|
B |----10---12-| |----12---14--|
G |--9----11---| |-11------14--|
D |--9----11---| |-11------14--|
A |--9------12-| |----12---14--|
E |--9------12-| |----12---14--|



In a rock/blues (B.B. King, Smashing Pumpkins, whatever) song, we can move from
one scale to the other at will. We can also mix the two scales together. Here
are the two scales written together as the extended combination scale:

Key= A major
Minor Pentatonic PLUS Major Pentatonic

E |--0---2---3-------5-------7---8---9---10------12------14---15----|
B |--0---2---3-------5-------7---8-------10------12--13--14---15----|
G |------2-------4---5---6---7-------9-------11--12------14---------|
D |------2-------4---5-------7-------9---10--11--12------14---------|
A |--0---2---3---4---5-------7-------9---10------12------14---15----|
E |--0---2---3-------5-------7---8---9---10------12------14---15----|
       Be careful with the extended combination scale, it is really easy to get
      lost.
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Guitar Lesson: Beginning scales

Gmajor scale 1st position  r=root note


|-----------------------------------------2--3--5--------------------------
|-----------------------------------3--5-----------------------------------
|--------------------------2--4--5-----------------------------------------
|-----------------2--4--5--------------------------------------------------
|--------2--3--5-----------------------------------------------------------
|--3--5--------------------------------------------------------------------
   r                     r                    r
   2  4  1  2  4  2  3  4  1  3  4  2  4  1  2  4  = fingers used (optional)

Gmaj 2nd position

|--------------------------------------------5--7--8-----------------------
|-----------------------------------5--7--8--------------------------------
|--------------------------4--5--7-----------------------------------------
|-----------------4--5--7--------------------------------------------------
|-----------5--7-----------------------------------------------------------
|--5--7--8-----------------------------------------------------------------
                      r                    r

   1  3  4  2  4  1  2  4  1  2  4  1  3  4  1  3  4

Gmaj 3rd position

|------------------------------------------------7--8--10------------------
|--------------------------------------7--8--10----------------------------
|--------------------------------7--9--------------------------------------
|----------------------7--9--10--------------------------------------------
|------------7--9--10------------------------------------------------------
|--7--8--10----------------------------------------------------------------
                    r                      r
   1  2  4   1  3   4  1  3  4   1  3   1  2  4   1  2  4

Gmaj 4th position

|-------------------------------------------------------10--12-------------
|-------------------------------------------10--12--13---------------------
|--------------------------------9--11--12---------------------------------
|---------------------9--10--12--------------------------------------------
|----------9--10--12-------------------------------------------------------
|--10--12------------------------------------------------------------------
               r                         r
    2   4  1   2   4  1  2    4  1   3   4   1   3   4   1   3

Gmaj 5th position

|---------------------------------------------------------12--14--15-------
|---------------------------------------------12--13--15-------------------
|---------------------------------11--12--14-------------------------------
|-------------------------12--14-------------------------------------------
|-------------12--14--15---------------------------------------------------
|-12--14--15---------------------------------------------------------------
           r                           r                            r
   1  3   4    1   3   4   1   3   1   2   4   1   2   4    1   3  4


These are the 5 positions of the Major scale.  The root note is the note
that determines what the scale is called.  Such as, Gamjor, Amajor Bbmajor
etc. 
Some of these scales require some position shifts, i.e. where you have to
adjust your hand to get to the next note. I've notated the fingerings as to
make this a little easier.

The Major scale is based on scale degrees.  I  II  III  IV  V  VI  VII VIII
these are determined by half and whole steps.  A half step you can think of
it as going up or down one fret.  Like from B to C or D to D#.  A whole step
is like going up two frets.  B to C# or A to B.
I-II whole step
II-III whole step
III-IV half step
IV-V whole step
VI-VII half step
VII-VIII whole step    VIII is just an octave up from the root note (B-B)
An octave is eight steps up.  Same note, just higher or lower than the root.

With the 1st position of the Major scale, you can make that Amajor by moving
the root note on the low E string up to the 5th fret.  Hence, the A major
scale.  By memorizing these you can play in any key by finding the root note
somewhere on the fretboard.

Make a recording of just the G major chord, then play the scale, and
improvise something over it.

Or you can use these chords:
Gmaj, Amin, Bmin, Cmaj, Dmaj, Emin, F#min (or diminished)

Minor scales are the same as the relative major scales, except that they
start on a different note.  The scales above you can use over Eminor,
because Eminor is Gmajor's relative key.  This means, that the notes are
the same in both scales, and the chords are the same, it would just be
that Eminor is the most prominent chord.  Most rock music is in Eminor,
minor keys are very dark sounding, whereas major chords, sound happy,
or bright.




G Pentatonic Major


|--------------------------------3--5--------------------------------------
|--------------------------3--5--------------------------------------------
|--------------------2--4--------------------------------------------------
|--------------2--5--------------------------------------------------------
|--------2--5--------------------------------------------------------------
|--3--5--------------------------------------------------------------------
   r               r              r



|-------------------------------5--7---------------------------------------
|-------------------------5--8---------------------------------------------
|-------------------4--7---------------------------------------------------
|-------------5--7---------------------------------------------------------
|-------5--7---------------------------------------------------------------
|-5--7---------------------------------------------------------------------
              r              r

|-----------------------------------7--10----------------------------------
|----------------------------8--10-----------------------------------------
|----------------------7--9------------------------------------------------
|----------------7--9------------------------------------------------------
|---------7--10------------------------------------------------------------
|--7--10-------------------------------------------------------------------
             r                r

|----------------------------------------10--12----------------------------
|--------------------------------10--12------------------------------------
|-------------------------9--12--------------------------------------------
|------------------9--12---------------------------------------------------
|----------10--12----------------------------------------------------------
|--10--12------------------------------------------------------------------
            r                 r          

|------------------------------------------12--15--------------------------
|----------------------------------12--15----------------------------------
|--------------------------12--14------------------------------------------
|-----------------12--14---------------------------------------------------
|---------12--14-----------------------------------------------------------
|-12--15-------------------------------------------------------------------
      r                     r                   r


These are the 5 Pentatonic scale positions.  Gmajor (again) Pentatonic can
be thought of as Eminor Pentatonic.  Just start on a different note.  Try
this.  Record a progression - E - A - B use power chords (5chords) then
play these scales over it.  Memorize these scales by their root note (r)
and you can play in any key just knowing these 5 positions. 

Pentatonic scales are used commonly in blues or rock.  They're only 5
notes, as compared to major or minor (7 notes). 

Practice these two types of scales in each position, try to use a metronome
if you have one, this will enable you to play these scales cleanly and
accurately.  A good thing to do is find the first root note from the low
E string.  Play the scale starting on the root, play the scale up then
down to the Low E, then back to the root note. i.e.



|--------------------------5--7--8--7--5-----------------------------------
|-----------------5--7--8-----------------8--7--5--------------------------
|--------4--5--7-----------------------------------7--5--4-----------------
|--5--7-----------------------------------------------------7--5--4--------
|--------------------------------------------------------------------7--5--
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------


-----------------------------|
-----------------------------|
-----------------------------|
-----------------------4--5--|
-----------------5--7--------|
--8--7--5--7--5--------------|


This way, you will remember where the root note is, there are usually at
least two root notes in a scale, try starting on all the root notes for
each position and doing this.  This way, you can find a starting point
on any string.  Also pay attention to how the notes connect to each other
up the fretboard.


=======================================================================
h = hammeron                                   
p = pulloff                   
/\ = slide                      
x = ghost note                               
t = tap (right hand)           
~ = vibrato
bf = bend full
rb = release bend
dive = dive with bar

========================================================================

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