SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

The Guitar Channel

Subscribe Login
  • Home
  • Showroom
  • TV Shows
  • Gear
    • Gear
    • Backstage Gear Tour
    • Guitar Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Radio
  • Home
  • Showroom
  • TV Shows
  • Gear
    • Gear
    • Backstage Gear Tour
    • Guitar Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Radio
  • Subscribe
  • Login
Thursday, 22 March 2018 / Published in Improve your playing

Master the 5 positions of the pentatonic scale in a 5 fret zone

Master the 5 positions of the pentatonic scale in a 5 fret zone

In this lesson the exercise (or the torture, especially at the beginning) that Simon Ghnassia proposes to do has the goal to help you assimilate thoroughly the 5 positions of the pentatonic scales. The goal is to play all the pentatonic scale positions (in minor in this case) by changing position at each chord with a fourth interval but staying on an area of 5 frets.

The 5 positions of the minor pentatonic scale - The Guitar Channel

The 5 positions of the minor pentatonic scale

Demo - 5 positions of the pentatonic scale

Rules of the game: you have to stay all the time between the 3rd and the 7th fret. We go up and down the penta doubling the last note when we go down.

The exercise is not very musical but it's an excellent way to master the 5 positions of the pentatonic scale.

Three bars per chord chart

There are 3 bars for each chord to allow each pentatonic to go up and down completely. This gives a weird aspect to the chart but the goal here is to work the positions to put them well under the fingers. We will try to do some music with the next chart.

Master the 5 positions of the pentatonic scale in a 5 fret zone

iRealPro file: Penta Min in Fourth - 3 bars

Note that in this version, you loop the chart on itself but the original exercise recommended by Simon is to continue then on the next fourth chord, Abmin7 in that example to cover the whole fretboard.

Two bars per chord chart

In this chart this time we have 2 bars per chord. The goal here is to phrase on each of the pentatonic positions while always respecting the constraint of remaining in the same area of 5 frets.

Master the 5 positions of the pentatonic scale in a 5 fret zone

iRealPro file: Penta Min in Fourth - 2 bars

Trust me this exercise will really help you to get all 5 positions of the ever useful pentatonic scale under your fingers. Very often we stick to the first position of the minor pentatonic and get away with it, not anymore! With a little of practice you will open up a whole new world on your fretboard.

Until the next lessons or  interview, keep on playing the guitar!

Pierre Journel.

Into guitars?
Subscribe!

Tagged under: Blog, Blues, Electric, Improve your playing, Open, Pentatonic Scale, Video

What you can read next

You want a free backing track from Steve Vai? Buy the Backstage pass!
Backing track – “Drive” Yossi Sassi
When I rediscovered
When I rediscovered “That Day Came” by Andy Timmons thanks to Jean Fontanille

GET A FREE QUOTE

Please fill this for and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!

TOP
 

Loading Comments...
 

    LCG
    Follow us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    The Guitar Channel

    20 Avenue Foch 94160 Saint-Mandé, France

    +33(0)6 31 38 86 41

    pierre@lachaineguitare.com

    • About
    • Useful Links
    • Version française