Guitar Lessons: The Pentatonic Scale

Pentatonic Scale

The Pentatonic Scale
This is the basic pentatonic scale on which most guitar solos are based. It is
called penta-tonic because it has only five notes instead of the usual eight.
That isn't very important right now, though. What is important is that you
memorize this scale. You can do that by playing it over and over again. Or it
might be easier to just learn the tricks in the easy tricks sections. They are
all based on this scale exclusively.
Key=A
Basic Pentatonic                      With Extensions

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




  The scale above is the pentatonic scale for songs in the key of A. The key
  determines where on the fretboard you will want to play. The note on the sixth
  (E) string at the 5th fret is an "A." A is the "root" of the A scale. If we
  wanted to play in "G" we would want to move this whole thing down to the 3rd
  fret, like so:
Key=G
Basic Pentatonic                      With Extensions

E |-----3--------6----------------| E |-----3---------6------8--------|
B |-----3--------6----------------| B |-----3---------6------8--------|
G |-----3-----5-------------------| G |-----3-----5------7------------|
D |-----3-----5-------------------| D |-----3-----5-------------------|
A |-----3-----5-------------------| D |-----3-----5-------------------|
E |-----3--------6----------------| E |-----3--------6----------------|

  Most of the tricks in this site are in the key of A so we won't have to worry
  about that too much. However, if you try playing in the wrong key you will
  sound really bad. If you find yourself playing with others and you don't know
  what key they are using either ask them or watch to see which chord they play
  the most often. Usually a song will use the chord that corresponds to the key
  more often than other chords. If the song is in A, there will be a lot of A
  chords. Also, a song will usually start and end with the root chord . If the
  song is in A, the first chord will probably be A and the last chord will
  probably be A.
  Let's not worry for the moment about whether the key is "A major" or "A
  minor." I will explain that later. 

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Natural Harmonics

Natural Harmonics

Here is a natural harmonics table where all the tones are marked on the guitar
fret board. Well, it´s not on all frets... just the 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th fret are
marked. I think it could be helpful for melody writing with the use of natural
harmonics.

Here is how the natural harmonics thing works:
If you measure the length of a string from the bridge to the top of the neck and
divide the length by 2 it should be over the 12 fret, and that's a natural
harmonics position.
If you divide the length by 3 and measure that length from the top of the neck
you have the 7th fret N.H. position.
Divide by 4 and you have the 5th N.H position.
Divide by 5 and you have the 4th N.H position which is the same as the 9th fret
(divide by 5 and then multiply by 2 for the 9th fret).
Below you will find the note names of all the common natural harmonics. These
notes are close to the A major scale. Check out
Trick of the Week May 10,1999
for a trick based on these note values. You can use them to play any melody in A
major.

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Guitar Lessons: Medium Trick 8

Medium Trick 8

Now's a good time to slow down and rest before we move on to the Hard Tricks.

E |-------------------------------|----------------------------------|

B |-------------------------------|----------------------------------|

G |-------------------------------|---5---------5~~~~~~~~~-----------|

D |-------------------------------|--------7-------------------------|

A |-------------3-----5------/7---|----------------------------------|

E |------/5-----------------------|----------------------------------|

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Guitar lessons: Medium Trick 7

Medium Trick 7
When you play the exact same notes in different places on the guitar, the
fingering of a group of notes will change, and that will allow you to do
different tricks than you could if you stayed in one position. I am introducing
new fingering here, but these are the same notes you have been playing since
Easy Trick 1. Notice how the hammer-ons occur between different pairs of notes
in the second measure than in the first.



E |-------------------------------|----------------------------------|
B |----------------------------5--|----------------------------------|
G |----------------------5-h-7----|---------------------------7-h-9--|
D |--------------5-h-7------------|--------------------7-h-10--------|
A |--------5-h-7------------------|------------7-h-10----------------|
E |-5-h-8-------------------------|-5-h-8--/10-----------------------|
     

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Guitar Lesson: Medium Trick 6

Medium Trick 6
Did you know that you can play the exact same note in several different places
on the guitar?






E |---1---------------------------|---0------------------------------|
B |-----------6-------------------|-------------5--------------------|
G |---------------------10--------|-----------------------9----------|
D |-------------------------------|----------------------------------|
A |-------------------------------|----------------------------------|
E |-------------------------------|----------------------------------|

     

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Guitar Lessons: Medium Trick 5, KEY=A Major

Medium Trick 5
When I've been soloing through a few songs and my brain is starting to get
tired, I like to do the same trick twice in a row. First I play it in the major
pentatonic position and then in the standard position. It sounds pretty
sophisticated and it gives me a chance to rest.


KEY=A Major

E |---------------5---7b/\---5----|--------------8---10b/\---8-------|
B |---------5--7----------------7-|-------8--10-----------------10---|
G |----/6-------------------------|---/9-----------------------------|
D |-------------------------------|----------------------------------|
A |-------------------------------|----------------------------------|
E |-------------------------------|----------------------------------|
     

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Guitar Lesson: A Major Scale

Medium Trick 4
No theory here. Relax and play a trick.

KEY=A Major

E |-----------8-------------------|----------------------------------|
B |---8-h-10-----10--8-----8------|--------8-------------------------|
G |---------------------9-----9---|-7-h-9-----9--7--5--7--5---5------|
D |-------------------------------|-------------------------7---7----|
A |-------------------------------|----------------------------------|
E |-------------------------------|----------------------------------|
     

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Major Pentatonic Scale 3

Major Pentatonic Scale

More Scales 

Here is the basic pentatonic scale. Does it look familiar? If not, you might

want to go practice the easy tricks before you read this next part. Without the

pentatonic scale as background this section will get really confusing.

Key= A

Basic Pentatonic With Extensions

E |-----5--------8----------------| E |-----5---------8------10-------|

B |-----5--------8----------------| B |-----5---------8------10-------|

G |-----5-----7-------------------| G |-----5-----7------9------------|

D |-----5-----7-------------------| D |-----5-----7-------------------|

A |-----5-----7-------------------| D |-----5-----7-------------------|

E |-----5--------8----------------| E |-----5--------8----------------|

When a guitar player talks about "the penatonic scale" this scale above is what

he is talking about. However, it is really called the MINOR pentatonic scale. In

these discussions we call it "the basic pentatonic" because most people don't

call it minor.

So what is the difference? Well, a scale is major if the third note of the scale

is four frets from the root note. A scale is minor if the third note of the

scale is three frets from the root note. In the A major scale the third note is

C#, which is four frets from A. In the pentatonic scale above the third note is

C, not C#. Therefore the scale is minor. You don't need to understand this in

order to be a good guitar player. You just need to know how to play it. Read on

to learn how to play the MAJOR penatonic scale.

The Major Pentatonic Scale

Next door to the basic pentatonic scale below is the major pentatonic scale. It

looks like the minor pentatonic scale for F#, which it is. However, it is also

the major pentatonic scale for A major. F# is the relative minor key of A major.

The relative minor key is always 1 1/2 steps down from the major key. This is

easy to remember if you remember that A is the relative minor of C. That isn't

really important to this discussion. As a guitar player all you need to know is

that you can play in two different positions on the fret board in the same song

and get two entirely different sets of sounds using the same standard pentatonic

scale and even the same tricks. All you have to do is move the pattern down

three frets and see how it sounds.

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----------------|

If you are playing in the greater rock/blues category of music (the big category

from Chuck Berry to Metallica), then you can use either the major or minor

pentatonic in your solos. You can even use both in the same solo. The rock/blues

style only loosely adheres to the major/minor distinction. This gives you a lot

of leeway in your playing.

The Combination Scale

So what is to stop you from combining the two? Nothing, not one thing except the

song itself. The same trick won't sound good in every song, so it is up to you

to decide what sounds best in a given situation. Does this look difficult? It's

not, really. It is just two simple pentatonic scales sitting side by side.

Key=A

Minor Pentatonic PLUS Major Pentatonic

E |-----2----------5-------7---8------10--------|

B |-----2----------5-------7---8------10--------|

G |-----2------4---5---6---7-------9------------|

D |-----2------4---5-------7--------------------|

A |-----2------4---5-------7--------------------|

E |-----2----------5-------7---8----------------|

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Major Pentatonic Scale

Major Pentatonic Scale

More Scales

 

Here is the basic pentatonic scale. Does it look familiar? If not, you might
want to go practice the easy tricks before you read this next part. Without the
pentatonic scale as background this section will get really confusing.

Key= A
Basic Pentatonic                      With Extensions

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

When a guitar player talks about "the penatonic scale" this scale above is what
he is talking about. However, it is really called the MINOR pentatonic scale. In
these discussions we call it "the basic pentatonic" because most people don't
call it minor.
So what is the difference? Well, a scale is major if the third note of the scale
is four frets from the root note. A scale is minor if the third note of the
scale is three frets from the root note. In the A major scale the third note is
C#, which is four frets from A. In the pentatonic scale above the third note is
C, not C#. Therefore the scale is minor. You don't need to understand this in
order to be a good guitar player. You just need to know how to play it. Read on
to learn how to play the MAJOR penatonic scale.





The Major Pentatonic Scale
Next door to the basic pentatonic scale below is the major pentatonic scale. It
looks like the minor pentatonic scale for F#, which it is. However, it is also
the major pentatonic scale for A major. F# is the relative minor key of A major.
The relative minor key is always 1 1/2 steps down from the major key. This is
easy to remember if you remember that A is the relative minor of C. That isn't
really important to this discussion. As a guitar player all you need to know is
that you can play in two different positions on the fret board in the same song
and get two entirely different sets of sounds using the same standard pentatonic
scale and even the same tricks. All you have to do is move the pattern down
three frets and see how it sounds.

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----------------|

If you are playing in the greater rock/blues category of music (the big category
from Chuck Berry to Metallica), then you can use either the major or minor
pentatonic in your solos. You can even use both in the same solo. The rock/blues
style only loosely adheres to the major/minor distinction. This gives you a lot
of leeway in your playing.




The Combination Scale
So what is to stop you from combining the two? Nothing, not one thing except the
song itself. The same trick won't sound good in every song, so it is up to you
to decide what sounds best in a given situation. Does this look difficult? It's
not, really. It is just two simple pentatonic scales sitting side by side.

Key=A
Minor Pentatonic PLUS Major Pentatonic

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

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Major Pentatonic Scale

Major Pentatonic Scale
More Scales


Here is the basic pentatonic scale. Does it look familiar? If not, you might
want to go practice the easy tricks before you read this next part. Without the
pentatonic scale as background this section will get really confusing.

Key= A
Basic Pentatonic                      With Extensions

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

When a guitar player talks about "the penatonic scale" this scale above is what
he is talking about. However, it is really called the MINOR pentatonic scale. In
these discussions we call it "the basic pentatonic" because most people don't
call it minor.
So what is the difference? Well, a scale is major if the third note of the scale
is four frets from the root note. A scale is minor if the third note of the
scale is three frets from the root note. In the A major scale the third note is
C#, which is four frets from A. In the pentatonic scale above the third note is
C, not C#. Therefore the scale is minor. You don't need to understand this in
order to be a good guitar player. You just need to know how to play it. Read on
to learn how to play the MAJOR penatonic scale.




The Major Pentatonic Scale
Next door to the basic pentatonic scale below is the major pentatonic scale. It
looks like the minor pentatonic scale for F#, which it is. However, it is also
the major pentatonic scale for A major. F# is the relative minor key of A major.
The relative minor key is always 1 1/2 steps down from the major key. This is
easy to remember if you remember that A is the relative minor of C. That isn't
really important to this discussion. As a guitar player all you need to know is
that you can play in two different positions on the fret board in the same song
and get two entirely different sets of sounds using the same standard pentatonic
scale and even the same tricks. All you have to do is move the pattern down
three frets and see how it sounds.

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----------------|

If you are playing in the greater rock/blues category of music (the big category
from Chuck Berry to Metallica), then you can use either the major or minor
pentatonic in your solos. You can even use both in the same solo. The rock/blues
style only loosely adheres to the major/minor distinction. This gives you a lot
of leeway in your playing.




The Combination Scale
So what is to stop you from combining the two? Nothing, not one thing except the
song itself. The same trick won't sound good in every song, so it is up to you
to decide what sounds best in a given situation. Does this look difficult? It's
not, really. It is just two simple pentatonic scales sitting side by side.

Key=A
Minor Pentatonic PLUS Major Pentatonic

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


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