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How to play pentatonic scale on guitar

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For most beginners learning guitar scales, the very first scale they learn is either the major or minor pentatonic guitar scale. Why? Because it’s easy to learn! Sorry for shouting. In this article we will look at how to play a pentatonic scale on guitar.

I will focus this article on how to play the major pentatonic scale. The minor pentatonic scale has been done to death. The major pentatonic scale is a 5 note scale that’s very happy, vibrant and melodic. It’s really hard to go wrong with it especially when playing in a major key. Oh yes it can be used on the dark side as well (minor) but we will not go there.

To make life easy let’s look at the G major pentatonic scale. Now contrary to popular practice I don’t play the major pentatonic scale in the recommended position using the recommended shape. I have also notice that many top guitarists play the pentatonic scale on guitar similar to how I would play it.

I start on the 5^th note in the scale and just make up melodic phrases as I go up and down the scale. The two main positions I use can be seen in the pentatonic scale guitar tabs below.

Pentatonic scale guitar tab 1:

E|-------------------------------------------------------------------10-----12-----

B|-----------------------------------------------8-----10-----12-------------------

G|-----------------------------------7-----9---------------------------------------

D|-----------------5-----7-----9---------------------------------------------------

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

E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pentatonic scale guitar tab 2:

E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------15----15----17----19----

B|----------------------------------------------------------------15----17----------------------------

G|----------------------------------------------12----14----16----------------------------------------

D|----------------------------------12----14----------------------------------------------------------

A|----------------10----12----14----------------------------------------------------------------------

E|----10----12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So pattern 1 is for the E shape chords and 2 is for the A shape chords. If you do not know about A and E shapes chords are, just do a quick YouTube search and you will see what I mean. Remember that these scales are for G major chords in two different positions on the guitar. So G major at the 3^rd fret and 10^th fret respectively.

I have found that playing pentatonic scale on guitar in this way makes my life very easy when playing lead guitar, especially reggae guitar, but not limited to.

The video show how to play the scales on the guitar. That is the notes, position and pattern. It also shows how I use the scales in a real sense with a reggae groove. It can be used in any genre of music not just reggae.

However, you need be exercise some caution when the key you are playing in is not a major key as there can be some harmonic dissonance, which may sound unpalatable to the ears.

The trick is to practice the scale until you get the hang of it. Then what you want to do is get a backing track and practice playing some melodic lines on the fly.

 Over time you will grow to become competent and your fans and friends will be very impressed. That’s it have fun! For more on how to play reggae guitar

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