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Scales

MINOR PENTATONIC SHAPE 1

There are 12 musical notes in total. In a major or minor scale, 7 notes are selected and used.  In a pentatonic scale, only 5 notes are used. You can think of it as a slimmed down version of the minor scale with the ambiguous notes removed.

Try following the TAB below to learn the first pentatonic shape. Take your time and get the notes under your fingers sounding cleanly

e----------------------5-8-5--------------------

B------------------5-8-------8-5----------------

G--------------5-7---------------7-5------------

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

A------5-7-------------------------------7-5----

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

TIP - Use your index finger for the 5th fret, ring finger for the 7th and pinky for the 8th.
When plucking the string, use down strokes exclusively for now.

EXERCISE

STEP 1

Get a metronome open. You can download an app on your phone or click here to use an online metronome

STEP 2

Set the tempo to 60BPM and press start. You should hear the metronome keeping steady 4/4 time. That means 4 beats per bar.

STEP 3

Try playing the pentatonic scale along with the click. Play the whole scale up, and then the whole way down in pitch without repeating the top note (following the TAB)

Initially, aim to play one note every 2 beats. If you find that hard, try playing one note every 4 beats, or try slowing the tempo down. Speed is not at all important for this exercise, but accuracy is.

STEP 4

Once you feel comfortable with playing the scale slow (don't rush Step 3 - get it right slow first) try playing a note on every beat of the metronome.

Once you can do this 3 times consecutively without making a mistake, bring up the tempo by 4BPM. Succeed 3 times with no mistakes, rinse & repeat. Make a note of the highest tempo you can play cleanly - this is your PB, and is the tempo to beat in future practise sessions!

Remember - speed is not important; keeping a steady, tight timing is the point of the exercise

It doesn't matter if you don't get past Step 3 before the next lesson. It's much more important to take as much time as you need to get the scale sitting comfortable under your fingers! Speed will inevitably come easier than you think, but only when built on the foundation of good technique.

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