The A Minor Pentatonic Scale – Also the C Major Pentatonic Scale – All 5 Pentatonic Positions on Guitar!
Here ya go! The A Minor Pentatonic scale gives you a blues/rock vibe (bend the D notes to Eb and back to D). The C Major Pentatonic Scale gives you a country or southern rock vibe (bend the D notes to E). (The vibe will stay the same regardless of key). Its also how Asian instruments like the Guzheng (Chinese Zither) or Dan Tranh Vienamese 16 string zithers are tuned!
Notice all the patterns overlap!! Open and 12th are the same pattern, 12 frets (an octave) apart. Have Fun!!
Here’s the same scale in E minor or G Major: https://bradleyfish.com/the-e-minor-pentatonic-scale/
Your ‘Rock’ Scale – the A Minor Pentatonic Scale!!!
Your ‘Rock’ Scale – the A Minor Pentatonic Scale!!!
Its also your ‘Country’ scale, the C Major Pentatonic Scale.
Save the image above print it, frame it, and stick on your wall!!!
This is just a 5 note scale: A C D E G — its the same in any pattern.
On all the patterns just play 2 notes per fret. (Notice the Low E string is thick in the drawing.) As you can see, they all overlap.
Start w/ the (blue) 5th position. That’s all you need to get started jamming.
It gives you 80% of the effect w/20% of the effort!!
When you’re ready to use more of the neck and really progress, try a new pattern per month or so. I’d do the (purple) open position and then the (red) 2nd position. Then fill in the rest. Notice the open and 12th (both purple) position patterns are really the same pattern, just an octave apart.
Jam w/ this stuff and have fun. Lay down a chord progression on a recording or a looper – or jam w/ a buddy – and jam over it w/ any of these patterns.
Try rock progressions in A or A Minor (i.e.) //: A / C / D / D ://
Try Folk/Country progressions in C major. (i.e.) //: C / F / G / G ://
This video walks you through the patterns. Have Fun!!!