Sometimes playing chord changes can throw us out of sync; that’s because moving between pentatonic shapes can feel disorienting.
Assuming you’re soloing over an A major chord and the chord progression switches to D, switching from box shape 5 to 1 midphrase could throw off your solo’s momentum and throw you off track.
1. A Major Pentatonic Box 5
The major pentatonic box provides guitarists with immense potential. However, due to some distinct differences from its minor pentatonic cousin, its implementation can be more challenging and may necessitate a different approach when soloing and chord progressions are involved. This may present significant difficulties.
Luckily, it does not necessitate learning any unfamiliar scale shapes like its minor pentonic cousin; instead it utilizes chord forms from CAGED system for its construction allowing you to visually connect chord and scale patterns across fretboard.
Below are the five patterns of the major pentatonic scale. Each pattern begins on a different root note – for instance pattern 1 begins on the fifth fret of your sixth string while pattern 4 begins on the second fret of your fifth string. I have also provided fingerings I recommend you use when playing these patterns.
2. F# Minor Pentatonic Box 1
Pentatonic scales are sometimes known as “box” shapes due to their finger pattern resembling that of a box. Because fretted notes repeat themselves, this finger pattern can be moved up and down the neck in order to play different keys.
In this example, the blues box in G minor pentatonic is being moved down two frets to F minor pentatonic. To do this, fret the root note of the new key on string 1 with your first finger while using other fingers to stop its third, fifth, and sixth notes – this process should allow for easier playing!
Be wary not to stray too far from the minor pentatonic, as doing so will diminish its blues-influenced sound. Instead, focus on building scale positions that complement chord progressions so as not to lose that bluesy vibe; E minor pentatonic scale works very well over C major chords for instance.
3. D Major Pentatonic Box 5
Once you’ve memorized chord shapes, it’s time to progress onto scale patterns. Pentatonic scale patterns interconnect across the fretboard and can be used for many different kinds of licks; remembering these scale patterns means linking back to their root notes.
On occasion, you may notice that certain notes in the major pentatonic scale may clash with chords you are playing over and produce an undesirable sound. To prevent any unpleasant aural results from these collisions, be mindful of this potential issue and aim to eliminate it as much as possible.
The minor pentatonic scale is easy to learn and incorporate, which explains its popularity among blues and blues-rock guitarists alike. Try adding it into your songwriting – you might just be amazed at the results!
4. C Major Pentatonic Box 1
The major pentatonic scale can add depth and vibrancy to your lead playing. Use it alone or combine it with minor pentatonic for an unforgettable sound found across rock, blues and country genres of music.
Learning pentatonic box patterns is essential in understanding how they relate to each other and using the entire fretboard effectively – this makes playing in any key much simpler!
These patterns use similar fingerings as minor pentatonic boxes but with their root note moved up by one tone (or two frets), so they can be played in any key. Furthermore, they form diagonal scales which can be rearranged into two different scale patterns with roots on every string; giving you lots of freedom when meandering patterns up and down the fretboard to an accompanying metronome beat.