In our last lesson we covered the Am pentatonic scale at the
root note fret position. You were asked to memorize the fingering of the root
note fret position and learn to play each note smoothly. Once you master this scale,
others will be no problem.
The root note fret starts at the 5th fret. The note on the Low
E String, 5th fret is the A note. That means that every minor pentatonic
scale root note fret gets its name from the note on
the Low E string. If you moved this exact fingering
pattern to the 3rd fret, it would now be the Gm pentatonic root note fret. If you moved it to the
12th fret, it would be the Em pentatonic root note fret. This may be one of the most important
things to comprehend. In time, you will be able to play a lead in any key, with
no problem at all.
Before we play a lead using this scale, you need to be
able to play this scale in your sleep. This scale and variations of this scale
are used by the greatest
guitarists in the world. Rock, blues, punk, metal you name it and they use it.
I wouldn't be wasting your time if it wasn't that important to learn.
Assignment:
 | Tune your guitar |
| Look over the open chords. |
| Review the root 6 bar chords. |
| More root 6
bar chords for reference. |
| Review the root
5 bar chords. |
| Strum the Am, F and G chords as much as possible. |
| Try picking each note of the Am, F and G chords. |
| Continue to practice the Am pentatonic scale root note fret and alternate your
picking down and then up. This will help with speed and pick control. |
| Look the next position of the Am
pentatonic scale starting at the 8th fret. |
| Practice the exercises everyday. |
| Learn to read tablature. |
| Review the bending, hammer-on and pull-off techniques. |
| Practice all the major pentatonic scale exercises in each key. |
| Review each major key and fingering. |
| Listen to the slow
intro song. |
| Listen to our slow
song beefed up a little for the electric
guitar. This is played in Am pentatonic, root note fret. The root note
fret is the 5th fret for Am pentatonic. |
| Copy the illustration below and circle all the notes of the Am pentatonic
scale in the entire illustration. The notes are A, C, D, E and G. |
| Play everyone of those notes up and down the fret board while looking at
the illustration. Say each note out loud as you pick it. Better yet, sing each note as you pick it. Also begin to
memorize each note and the position. |
| Notice that each note repeats every 12 frets. |
| Notice that the Am pentatonic scale at the 17th fret has the same
fingering pattern as the 5th fret. Everything repeats after 12 frets and
that goes for scales too. Look at the illustration below and notice how the
two yellow circles have the same notes and fingering pattern. That
goes for all of the circles below. Every note and pattern repeats
after 12 frets. |
| Use the lower illustration to fill in the fingering for the next
position of the Am pentatonic scale, starting at the 8th fret C note. Find
it here. A few notes have been filled in to get you started. |
| Watch how this is played. |
| Listen to this position. |
