Lesson 1. The Pentatonic Scale
How To Play The Pentatonic Scale

Welcome to lesson 1 of the pentatonic scale. In this lesson you will learn how to read scale diagrams and tablature. You will also learn the most commonly used fingering for this scale.

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Let's start by looking at a
pentatonic scale diagram.

Here is a very important concept. Notice that this diagram of the pentatonic scale has no open strings. This means you can play it anywhere on the guitar. The fret does not matter. Just make sure you keep the spacing between your fingers the same as you move the scale around the neck.

When you move to a different fret, you are changing the key. Don't worry if you don't know what this means, more on this in a later lesson.

When reading this diagram of the pentatonic scale, start on the left hand side of the diagram.

This is the low E string (6th string). Play all of the notes on this string from top to bottom before moving on to the next string. In this example you would play 2 notes on the 6th string. The 1st finger followed by the 4th finger.

On the 5th string you would play 1st finger followed by the 3rd finger. The 4th string would be 1st finger and 3rd finger again. Continue in this manner until you play the entire pentatonic scale.

When you arrive at the end of the scale, turn around and go back down the scale. In reverse, you would start on the 1st string and play 4th finger followed by the 1st finger.

The 2nd string would also be 4th finger, 1st finger. The 3rd string would be 3rd finger, 1st finger. Continue on until you complete the entire pentatonic scale.

Here are some other things to keep in mind as you play the scale on your guitar.

• Most of the scales that you will learn in these lessons cover a span of 4 frets. Follow the recommended fingerings using one finger per fret. If you have to stretch beyond that, it is no big deal to reach back with your 1st finger or stretch out with your 4th finger.
• To get your fingers in the proper playing position, allow your left hand to hang by your side completely relaxed. Turn your palm forward and without moving the upper arm, raise your forearm until your hand touches the edge of the fret board at the point where your fingers meet your palm.
• Place the thumb in the center of the neck behind your 1st finger. Arch your fingers over until they press down on the 3rd string. The tips of the fingers should be at a 90 degree angle to the fret board. The string should make a mark in the center of the fingers.
• As you spread your fingers to cover the 4 fret distance, they should be well separated at their middle joints. Your 1st finger should lean towards the head stock and your little finger will lean towards the bridge.
• When playing a note with the 1st finger, the string mark should be more on the side of your finger towards your thumb and the mark on your little finger will be out by the side of your hand.
• The palm of your hand should be parallel to the bottom of the neck.
  
• These are general guidelines. This will vary depending on where you are at on the neck as you play. I would recommend that you find a good teacher in your area if you are just starting out. Learning proper technique from the beginning is a great way to avoid headaches later on.

Here's the pentatonic scale in guitar tablature

Click here to listen.

Your goal for this lesson on the pentatonic scale is simply to memorize the pentatonic scale. As with all things in music, go slowly. Use a metronome when you practice and get plenty of repetitions.

If you were to play the pentatonic scale 20 times a day, 5 days a week for one month, that would be 400 repititions in a month. It doesn't take a lot of time to do this, and it's this kind of practice that will help you learn guitar in the shortest time possible. Do the repetitions and I promise it will be worth it. When you start to get command over the tools of music like the pentatonic scale, your enjoyment of playing will increase many times over.

Click here to reach me at bob@learn-guitar-online.com.

Click here for lesson 2 of the pentatonic scale.