Beginner Guitar Lesson 25 - The Pentatonic Scale

Today we're going to look at the pentatonic scale.

Pentatonic means that the scale has only 5 notes, as opposed to the usual 7 in a regular minor or major scale.

First we're going to play an open E on the thickest string; next we play the G on the thickest string, and then we play the G on the third fret string. Next we play the G on the third fret with our ring (3rd) finger, and finally we play the open A string and then play the B on the second fret with our second finger. After that we repeat those steps on the D string (play it open and then play the second fret (E) on the D string with your second finger).

That is the pentatonic scale in just one octave. Let's review the notes in this. E G A B D then the octave of E. Let’s continue this scale now for another octave. Play the open G and then play the octave. Next play the open G and the second fret (A) with your second finger. Now play the open B and then voice the D finger. Play the open B and then voice the D on the third fret with your ring (third) finger. Finally, play the thinnest open E string.

That's it! That's the pentatonic scale through two octaves as illustrated by the notation & picture below.

Practice playing it up and down the scale using alternate down and up picking patterns. Play one note per beat starting at 90 bpm and working up to 150 bpm in 5 bpm increments. You're well on your way to mastering the guitar now!

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