Copyright © 1999 - 2010 Yardley.org Hosted by ChristArt Christian Clipart Guitars.Yardley.org Five positions of the Minor Pentatonic Scale Learning the pentatonic scales is fairly easy. These positions are very common in the rock  and blues genre. A pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five notes per octave in contrast to a heptatonic (seven note) scale such as the major scale. In the lesson we will be in the key of G. Notice how these patterns move across the neck of the guitar. Learning these five positions will give you a better understanding of the guitar neck and improve the way you sound while playing the guitar. 1. Play each note one at a time in a slow tempo. Continue the progression until all notes are played.  2. Lean to play all the positions both forwards and backwards. 3. Do not change the finger color pattern. This is very important. 4. Try playing the scales with variations. Example: instead of playing each note one at a time, try playing each note 2 times before progressing to the next note. Also playing each note 4 times before each note progression. 5. In this lesson the first position started on the 3rd fret (G - note). However we could have started on the 5th fret (A note) or any where else on the 6th string. I chose to start in the 3rd fret so that you can see all the positions in order on the guitar neck. 6. The starting note (or root note) of the first position makes up the key. o If you start the on the 1st fret (E string) you are in the key of F. o If you start the on the 3rd fret (E string) you are in the key of G. o If you start the on the 5th fret (E string) you are in the key of A. o If you start the on the 7th fret (E string) you are in the key of B. o If you start the on the 8th fret (E string) you are in the key of C. The color code is as follows:   Red dots - index finger   Orange dots - middle finger   Green dot - ring finger   Blue dot - small finger