Scale Pattern #2
This is the first in a series of lessons designed to help you use your Minor Pentatonic scale patterns better. All links are to Guitar Tutor examples of the lessons exercises.
We will start out with the most common minor pentatonic pattern, which I call pattern #2 (See Minor Pentatonic Scale Patterns for all of the patterns.) First, you must learn this scale pattern.
| Minor
Pentatonic Scale Pattern #2 |
For now, let's practice this pattern in the key of A minor. To do this, we shall play the pattern with our first finger starting on the fifth fret. (The pattern gets its name from the note played by the first finger on the sixth string. Use the Fretboard Module in the Tonart Guitar Tutor to learn the names of these notes.) |
| Now, since there are 12 notes in this scale, let's number them from 1 to 12 starting on the root note. |
|
Three Note
Sequence
To create a 3-note sequence, let's take the scale that
we just numbered from 1 to 12. To create the
sequence, we start on 1 and play the first three notes of
the scale, 1-2-3. Then, beginning on 2, play 2-3-4.
Then we play 3-4-5, 4-5-6, 5-6-7, and so on. Hopefully,
the pattern is obvious. Below is the TAB for part of this
sequence.
Minor Pentatonic Pattern #2, 3-Note Sequence,
Ascending 
All Tablature created in the Tonart Guitar Tutor
You should practice this exercise both ascending and descending.
Four Note
Sequence
To create the sequence, we start on 1 and play
the first four notes of the scale, 1-2-3-4. Then,
beginning on 2, play 2-3-4-5. Then we play 3-4-5-6,
4-5-6-7, 5-6-7-8, and so on. Obviously, this is nearly the
same as the three note sequence except we use four. Below is the
TAB for part of this sequence.
Minor Pentatonic Pattern #2, 4-Note Sequence,
Ascending 
All Tablature created in the Tonart Guitar Tutor
You should practice this exercise both ascending and descending.
How
to Practice the Sequences
Start off slowly. Learn the sequence and practice it
slowly and flawlessly for several days before trying to pick up
speed. Your first goal for anything that you practice should
always be accuracy.
Once you get these sequences down, begin practicing them in the other pentatonic patterns. You can download those from here:
Minor Pentatonic Pattern #1
Minor Pentatonic Pattern #3
Minor Pentatonic Pattern #4
Minor Pentatonic Pattern #5
Next Lesson: Connecting Scale Patterns
This is the first in a series of lessons designed to help you use your Minor Pentatonic scale patterns better. All links are to Guitar Tutor examples of the lessons exercises.
We will start out with the most common minor pentatonic pattern, which I call pattern #2 (See Minor Pentatonic Scale Patterns for all of the patterns.) First, you must learn this scale pattern.
| Minor
Pentatonic Scale Pattern #2  |
For now, let's practice this pattern in the key of A minor. To do this, we shall play the pattern with our first finger starting on the fifth fret. (The pattern gets its name from the note played by the first finger on the sixth string. Use the Fretboard Module in the Tonart Guitar Tutor to learn the names of these notes.) |
| Now, since there are 12 notes in this scale, let's number them from 1 to 12 starting on the root note. |
|
Three Note
Sequence
To create a 3-note sequence, let's take the scale that
we just numbered from 1 to 12. To create the
sequence, we start on 1 and play the first three notes of
the scale, 1-2-3. Then, beginning on 2, play 2-3-4.
Then we play 3-4-5, 4-5-6, 5-6-7, and so on. Hopefully,
the pattern is obvious. Below is the TAB for part of this
sequence.
Minor Pentatonic Pattern #2, 3-Note Sequence,
Ascending 
All Tablature created in the Tonart Guitar Tutor
You should practice this exercise both ascending and descending.
Four Note
Sequence
To create the sequence, we start on 1 and play
the first four notes of the scale, 1-2-3-4. Then,
beginning on 2, play 2-3-4-5. Then we play 3-4-5-6,
4-5-6-7, 5-6-7-8, and so on. Obviously, this is nearly the
same as the three note sequence except we use four. Below is the
TAB for part of this sequence.
Minor Pentatonic Pattern #2, 4-Note Sequence,
Ascending 
All Tablature created in the Tonart Guitar Tutor
You should practice this exercise both ascending and descending.
How
to Practice the Sequences
Start off slowly. Learn the sequence and practice it
slowly and flawlessly for several days before trying to pick up
speed. Your first goal for anything that you practice should
always be accuracy.
Once you get these sequences down, begin practicing them in the other pentatonic patterns. You can download those from here:
Minor Pentatonic Pattern #1
Minor Pentatonic Pattern #3
Minor Pentatonic Pattern #4
Minor Pentatonic Pattern #5
Next Lesson: Connecting Scale Patterns
