Am Pentatonic Scale Use

New to soloing in the Am Minor Pentatonic scale? Stuck on what to use in your improvisation? Read on for the help your looking for.

The first thing you should take into consideration is the what key your backing track will be in. For this lesson, we will use my favourite scale - the A Minor Pentatonic Scale. This makes the Key Am. So you could play to a chord progression of Am-C-G-D. First, you need to know where the positions are of the A Minor Pentatonic scale. Here is the first position of the Am Pentatonic scale, learn this well.

Ascending:
E|---------------------------------------------5---8---|
B|-------------------------------------5---8-----------|
G|----------------------------5---7--------------------|
D|-------------------5---7-----------------------------|
A|----------5---7--------------------------------------|
E|-5---8-----------------------------------------------|

Descending:
E|-8---5-----------------------------------------------|
B|---------8---5---------------------------------------|
G|-------------------7---5-----------------------------|
D|----------------------------7---5--------------------|
A|-------------------------------------7---5-----------|
E|----------------------------------------------8---5--|

Once you have learned that shape well, learn the other A Minor Pentatonic boxes. Ascending and Descending.

1)
E|---------------------------------------------8---11--|
B|-------------------------------------8---11----------|
G|----------------------------8---10-------------------|
D|-------------------8---10----------------------------|
A|----------8---10-------------------------------------|
E|-8---11----------------------------------------------|

2)
E|---------------------------------------------10--13--|
B|-------------------------------------10--13----------|
G|----------------------------10--12-------------------|
D|-------------------10--12----------------------------|
A|----------10--12-------------------------------------|
E|-10--13----------------------------------------------|

3)
E|--------------------------------------------15--18---|
B|------------------------------------15--18-----------|
G|---------------------------15--17--------------------|
D|------------------15--17-----------------------------|
A|---------15--17--------------------------------------|
E|-15--18----------------------------------------------|

Once you have learned them positions ascending and descending, you can move onto the next part of the lesson.

Scales And Boxes.
The Am Pentatonic boxes are made up from the scale of a note from the Am Pentatonic scale. For example, the first Am Pentatonic (Starting at the 8th fret) is actually the start of the C Minor Pentatonic. So in other words, the boxes are made from the scales from the notes that are in the scale your using.

Making A Chord Progression.
Although you may have the urge to solo from the Am Pentatonic Scale, and the boxes, you should have a try at making a chord progression. The notes of the Am Pentatonic scale are: A, C, D, E, G. Remembering those notes, you can try playing the chords, which you can then create your own chord progressions, and make your own backing tracks from them. Not only can you do that, but if your for example wanting to play an arpeggio over a backing trac, if you learn the notes of the Am Pentatonic scale boxes, you will be able to switch to a chord from say, one of the C Minor Pentatonic scale's notes, and play an arpeggio of the chord when the backing track gets to the C Chord, or D chord, etc.

Techniques.
If you want to make your own solo's, you need to know the basic techniques. We will be. When I started improvising from the Am Pentatonic, I made up little licks using basic techniques. You should ensure you're familar with the following techniques:

* Hammer ons: h.
* Pull offs: p.
* Vibrato: ~.
* Bends: b.
* Pre-bends: pb.
* Bend & release: br.
* Slides: /.

1) The Slide, Vibrato, Bend/Release lick:

E|--------------------------|
B|--------------------------|
G|----------5~---7br----5~--|
D|---5/7--------------------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|

Simple but effective. I'd often follow it with this lick:

2)

E|---------------------------|
B|---------------------------|
G|-5h7p5---------------------|
D|------------7~----5----7~--|
A|---------------------------|
E|---------------------------|

Those licks sound good in any of the Am Pentatonic box shapes, and to this day, I still frequently use them while playing with backing tracks. When I played with backing tracks, I'd evolve from the licks above into the last Am Pentatonic minor box, which would sound good, like as though you were going from a verse to chorus. The main lick was:

E|---18b----18--15h18p15------------------------|
B|---------------------------------18~--15~-18b-|
G|----------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|

Another lick that was popular with me was:

E|-15-----------------------------|
B|-18b----------------------------|
G|---------15h18p15---------------|
D|-------------------------17pb---|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|

Make your own licks, even use some of the licks I use. Your idols use licks similar to these, so why can't you?

Comments

[AGAINST ME!]

This is the best article i have found on this whole site. He knows what he is talking about and it is easy to follow. 5 stars

[bsquizzato]

That first pattern of the Am pentatonic that you show is correct, but the following boxes are not the proper boxes for the Am pentatonic scale. You've shown the same box with 3 different root notes, with a C and D and G. So while these notes are in the key of A minor itself, you are not playing the A minor pentatonic scale when you play that pattern at the different root notes.

I guess your point here was to change the scale you're playing when the chord that its being played over is changed, but technically, you're not playing different boxes of the A minor pentatonic scale, you're playing the pentatonic scale starting on the root notes for the notes in an A minor scale.

(someone let me know if I'm not making this clear enough...)

[AdamDK]

bsquizzato wrote:

That first pattern of the Am pentatonic that you show is correct, but the following boxes are not the proper boxes for the Am pentatonic scale. You've shown the same box with 3 different root notes, with a C and D and G. So while these notes are in the key of A minor itself, you are not playing the A minor pentatonic scale when you play that pattern at the different root notes.

I guess your point here was to change the scale you're playing when the chord that its being played over is changed, but technically, you're not playing different boxes of the A minor pentatonic scale, you're playing the pentatonic scale starting on the root notes for the notes in an A minor scale.

(someone let me know if I'm not making this clear enough...)

You're right. I submitted this sometime in 2006, and in my thread on the forums, I posted corrections for the scales I think. Guess they used original one.

[jani_sorry]

good practice

[nachop88]

It's very good lesson!

Buena lección!

Let's practice!!!

[Syncula]

Nicely done..... I recodnize it off the pentegonics....

[sonneye]

great lesson should help me out

[Luke200420]

My guitar teacher taught me this and I still use it as a warm up.

[incendiary20]

thanks for all the work ya did

[rakista3]

waaaahh.. i dont know how to read tabs.. teach meeeee

[chady101]

man u tought me alot about soloing and scales and improvision, probs to u , thanks

[ADMSkynardfan]

well done..i use this to warm up all the time now
Bravo, 5 stars

[GWiz2]

Well... You kind of missed the mark here. You can't play Position 1 of Am pentatonic in other places on the fretboard (except at fret 17) and be in key. Here is the complete Am Pentatonic scale broken down by Positions 1 through 5. I think these are accurate as I don't have my guitar in front of me right now and I am going off of memory. I also included the scale pattern diagrams at the bottom to show a piture of how these scales break down.

Am Pentatonic Position 1
E|-----5---8---|
B|-----5---8-----|
G|-----5---7-----|
D|-----5---7-----|
A|-----5---7-----|
E|-5---8-----|

Am Pentatonic Position 2
E|-----8---10--|
B|-----8---10-----|
G|-----7---9-----|
D|-----7---10-----|
A|-----7---10-----|
E|-8---10-----|

Am Pentatonic Position 3
E|-----10--12---|
B|-----10--13-----|
G|-----9---12-----|
D|-----10--12-----|
A|-----10--12-----|
E|-10--12-----|

Am Pentatonic Position 4
E|-----12--15---|
B|-----13--15-----|
G|-----12--14-----|
D|-----12--14-----|
A|-----12--15-----|
E|-12--15-----|

Am Pentatonic Position 5
E|-----15--17---|
B|-----15--17-----|
G|-----14--17-----|
D|-----14--17-----|
A|-----15--17-----|
E|-15--17-----|


R = ROOT (In this case A)

Am Pentatonic Position 1
R--|--|--X--|
X--|--|--X--|
X--|--X--|--|
X--|--R--|--|
X--|--X--|--|
R--|--|--X--|
5th
Fret

Am Pentatonic Position 2
|--X--|--X--|
|--X--|--R--|
X--|--X--|--|
R--|--|--X--|
X--|--|--X--|
|--X--|--X--|
7th
Fret

Am Pentatonic Position 3
|--X--|--X--|
|--R--|--|--X
X--|--|--X--|
|--X--|--X--|
|--X--|--R--|
|--X--|--X--|
9th
Fret

Am Pentatonic Position 4
X--|--|--X--|
|--X--|--X--|
X--|--R--|--|
X--|--X--|--|
R--|--|--X--|
X--|--|--X--|
12th
Fret

Am Pentatonic Position 5
|--X--|--R--|
|--X--|--X--|
R--|--|--X--|
X--|--|--X--|
|--X--|--X--|
|--X--|--R--|
14th
Fret

Have fun and ROCK ON!

[GWiz2]

Well the scale patterns didn't turn out like I expected but hopefully you get the picture.

[kb7010]

You people are being to hard on the poor guy IMHO.. note that is says... " category: for beginners "
take it as such... yeah I already know all this info.. but I didn't 20 years ago when I first started playing...

[GWiz2]

Not trying to be to hard on anyone. The category is for beginners in which this is a beginner topic. The author of this information should not be a beginner though. A beginner should have the proper foundation to learn how to play their instrument correctly. Having incorrect information does not help a beginner. My post was only meant to show the correct positions of the Pentatonic paterns for Am (in this case). I did see that the author stated that the proper scales where submitted but somehow didn't make it into this article. I can accept that but the correction may be helpful.

[the_triangle]

GWiz2 wrote:

Well... You kind of missed the mark here. You can't play Position 1 of Am pentatonic in other places on the fretboard (except at fret 17) and be in key. Here is the complete Am Pentatonic scale broken down by Positions 1 through 5. I think these are accurate as I don't have my guitar in front of me right now and I am going off of memory. I also included the scale pattern diagrams at the bottom to show a piture of how these scales break down.

Am Pentatonic Position 1
E|-----5---8---|
B|-----5---8-----|
G|-----5---7-----|
D|-----5---7-----|
A|-----5---7-----|
E|-5---8-----|

Am Pentatonic Position 2
E|-----8---10--|
B|-----8---10-----|
G|-----7---9-----|
D|-----7---10-----|
A|-----7---10-----|
E|-8---10-----|

Am Pentatonic Position 3
E|-----10--12---|
B|-----10--13-----|
G|-----9---12-----|
D|-----10--12-----|
A|-----10--12-----|
E|-10--12-----|

Am Pentatonic Position 4
E|-----12--15---|
B|-----13--15-----|
G|-----12--14-----|
D|-----12--14-----|
A|-----12--15-----|
E|-12--15-----|

Am Pentatonic Position 5
E|-----15--17---|
B|-----15--17-----|
G|-----14--17-----|
D|-----14--17-----|
A|-----15--17-----|
E|-15--17-----|


R = ROOT (In this case A)

Am Pentatonic Position 1
R--|--|--X--|
X--|--|--X--|
X--|--X--|--|
X--|--R--|--|
X--|--X--|--|
R--|--|--X--|
5th
Fret

Am Pentatonic Position 2
|--X--|--X--|
|--X--|--R--|
X--|--X--|--|
R--|--|--X--|
X--|--|--X--|
|--X--|--X--|
7th
Fret

Am Pentatonic Position 3
|--X--|--X--|
|--R--|--|--X
X--|--|--X--|
|--X--|--X--|
|--X--|--R--|
|--X--|--X--|
9th
Fret

Am Pentatonic Position 4
X--|--|--X--|
|--X--|--X--|
X--|--R--|--|
X--|--X--|--|
R--|--|--X--|
X--|--|--X--|
12th
Fret

Am Pentatonic Position 5
|--X--|--R--|
|--X--|--X--|
R--|--|--X--|
X--|--|--X--|
|--X--|--X--|
|--X--|--R--|
14th
Fret

Have fun and ROCK ON!

wow thats hard to understand

[warlockking]

pretty good, but like they said those scale diagrams are wrong unless you are trying to make some kind of hybrid modular scale or something.

[rueda]

Very nice. I tried to figure this pentatonic scale thing out years ago and gave up. I don't even have my guitar in front of me and it makes sense--more than before. Keep it comin'.

[CallmeTravis]

AdamDK's article and Gwiz2's comments are extremely helpful for soloing and backing tracks. I don't know why my teacher hasn't taught me this yet, though, I've been playing for years... oh well, now I know it.

[Hendrix92492]

very helpful, i use that scale alot but never new it was an Am pentatonic, good lesson and good corrections, kudos to all!

[Adz2706]

so from what i understand i can use the a minor pentatonic over pretty much any chord progression?? =S

[Jumboshrmp]

rakista3 wrote:

waaaahh.. i dont know how to read tabs.. teach meeeee

This site should help you:

www.google.com

[BuzzinDom]

Found this forum today, and this is the first lesson i can say that i understand in full, well almost in full, but i can now play this scale as easy as playing it on a keyboard. I am loving this forum, thanks a lot guys to everyone putting in the effort for us noobs. I for one appreciate it.

[yoseth777]

dude. what you have posted are key changes and a totally new scale. To prove this, play the Cord A minor and try your scales. If you have any musical knowledge it would not sound right. I have an exceptional ear and I have modified the scales a little (well a lot) Try this out. I promise you won't regret.
1)
E|-----8---10--|
B|-----8---10-----|
G|-----7 ---9-----|
D|-----7---10-----|
A|-----7---10-----|
E|-8-- -10-----|

2)
E|-----10--12--|
B|-----10--13-----|
G|-- ---9--12-----|
D|-----10--12-----|
A|-----10--12-----|
E| -10--12-----|

3)
E|-----12--15---|
B|-----13--15-----|

G|-----12--14-----|
D|-----12--14-----|
A|-----12--15---- -|
E|-12--15-----|


E|-----15--17---|
B|-----15--17--- --|
G|-----14--17-----|
D|-----14--17-----|
A|-----15--17 -----|
E|-15--17-----|

[yoseth777]

Trust me, this will open your eyes and sound better. Your scales will only work on cord progressions and key changes. Try this dude.
1)
E|-----8---10--|
B|-----8---10-----|
G|-----7---9--- --|
D|-----7---10-----|
A|-----7---10-----|
E|-8---10---- -|

2)
E|-----10--12--|
B|-----10--13-----|
G|-----9--1 2-----|
D|-----10--12-----|
A|-----10--12-----|
E|-10--12 -----|

3)
E|-----12--15---|
B|-----13--15-----|
G|---- -12--14-----|
D|-----12--14-----|
A|-----12--15-----|
E|- 12--15-----|


E|-----15--17---|
B|-----15--17-----|
G| -----14--17-----|
D|-----14--17-----|
A|-----15--17-----|

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

[Geomancer1115]

This is so cool, I have never seen such lesson in my life before, Keep it up Guys thanks for sharing, but which one of Am Penta blocks is legit??? kinda confused...HELP!!! Thanks again...

[dhangejr]

Ok so penta means five like the pentagon.
Ok so now that I have established this.....
THe pentatonic scale has five notes hence the penta. So this scale will only have 5 notes. PERIOD. Any key pentatonic scale only has 5 notes.
Ok that is clear to me. I hope to you as well.
Those notes in A minor pentatonic are:
A C D E G thats it. Those notes appear all over the guitar.(and other instruments as well)
So count the number of A's on ur guitar.
I think thee is like ten or 12 different places you can play the note A count for your self I would have to my self.
ok now repeat this with C D E G now you know the whole Am pentatonic scale. Period There is only 5 notes remember that and find those notes everywhere. Play them over the progression in any way YOU like.
Also a note choosing to use a different compatible scale over the c cord would be a nice change from the Same old notes. So memorize the backing track you play, then memorize the notes A C D E G. Got it? Ok cool.
NOw you can take the original authors suggestions and play a c scale and it WILL SOUND PLEASANT.
SO LEARN THE RELITIVE TO Am C maj. By the way these scales are the same. lol but its a neat trick

Now learn the C Ionion mode. Simple C D E F G A B.
NOtice two things: 1 there all white keys on a key board. NO sharps or flats, 2 the only two notes you dident use are B and F perect intervals or eachouther and half steps. Try incoporating these tension notes over your cord of choice. A good rule of thumb is to use the 1 5 4 or 7the degrees for a texture or harmony. well thats kinda deep. so.....
If this dosent make sence im sorry you proably should go back to intrivals and octive shapes. Ect with an understanding of this theory its wrather difficult to grasp what I am talkin about.
PS. NOt to sound smart cus im not a genius but I did learn from a classicaly traind pianist turned guitarrist and I took theory clases at my local community collage and had the privilage of working with a dr of music. 7 years of studing music. I had to introduce my friend I speak of to him cus he knows more Than me. Its a whole lotta fun when you have someone to therorise with. Dont mis judge me I know a bit about theory, I mearly want to be humble. Everything I have stated has pritty much came straight out of the book by Walter Piston entilted Total Harmony. Id recomend it to ne one who wants to play ne instrument. Also a great book easey to find and cheap. The guitar book. Its from the guitar grilmore series. Very simple. They have this 4 page outline in the biginning that will get even the less intillictual peeps everything they need. Ask yourelf if you cn count by one halfs to twelve. as in 1/2, then 1 then 1 and 1/2 and 2 and so on. I tried to teach a handicapt person whom could not do this he couldent understand intrivals. Remember Music isint al that complicated in the biginning. the basic concepts are like a 3rd grade reading and math leval. If your readin this you got what it takes. A famous man once said,"Do you have the time" so do you.

Well just remember music saves lifes. Dont use drugs. I am a former storner/alki. I dont learn as well stoned. So if you serious about getting GOOD at the guitar id recomend not playin high.. You Just think ur better. TO the meth heads yeah ur fingers r prob fast, but so would they be if you practiced proberly. NOt that I did I just wanted to play fast so I did. I also had to go back and learn how to ploay slow. Very annoying. My technice is some what flawed in some areas. Its difficult to correct. The plus is I have my OWN technique. Well.....HOpe I helped someone. I will leave with my favorite saying I made up peace love and hippiness to all.

[dhangejr]

Wow that was a whole lot more than I thought.

[BennyStruggle]

dude if you arent a "storner-alki" anymore why are you typing like that?? I can spell and anunciate better then you when Im off my face...lol just kidding dude- take care- but I always hate it when I hear "Don't use drugs" or whatever, its everyones decision. Im a stoner-alchy and I love it.

[dhangejr]

BennyStruggle wrote:

dude if you arent a "storner-alki" anymore why are you typing like that?? I can spell and anunciate better then you when Im off my face...lol just kidding dude- take care- but I always hate it when I hear "Don't use drugs" or whatever, its everyones decision. Im a stoner-alchy and I love it.

Yeah I was for about 15 years. Its my thing for kids,cus I lost alot through pot. I

[dhangejr]

The really cool thing about these scales is adding chromaticism.

[Aurellius11]

Nicely Done!! Helped me out.....

[Metal_Ibanez_89]

I thought heres only on position for the Am Pentatonic scale and thats the 5-8, 5-7, 5-7, etc. If you go to the 8th fret, thats a B. Hows that an Am?

[metalman0030]

ya ya

[AdamDK]

Metal_Ibanez_89 wrote:

I thought heres only on position for the Am Pentatonic scale and thats the 5-8, 5-7, 5-7, etc. If you go to the 8th fret, thats a B. Hows that an Am?

8th fret = C

[D99741]

good tabs helps me under stand more and move faster, once again i must say ""

[synysterA7Xrule]

Hey, its a good lesson and all but, can you use all those boxes in the same key cause they all start with different notes and stuff

[acid eaters]

great lesson it's just what i needed cause i was stuck writing a solo and this lesson helped a lot

[F8iscruel]

ok im not a noob at guitar but im not great at it so and there is always one thing that gets me how do u transfer a scale into a solo i cant make that connection and my guitar playing is suffering ... i think i should get a teacher but im unsure because this is a good site but i think i would do better on the scales part with a teacher i think someone plz post a response to this one wether i should get a teacher for learning scales casue i no my guitar palying will not grow with out it
Imm a goofy goodber ROCK

[cowgirlshorty]

huh?

[jjmilone23]

great lesson!
i learned a lot

[1337Gu1tar]

good lesson

[vitorp07]

Thanks, easy practice and it sounds good

[Beximus]

My teacher is introducing me to improvising solo's with the AM Pentatonic, so this is good - given me a couple of new ideas to try. Cheers.

[fleh]

this is complete bollocks and from the relplies has clearly mislead a lot of people. you need to learn the theory properly before teaching other people how to get it wrong.

[eggytheused]

those tabs for the scales and all are easy to follow and good, its just that i still don't know squat about the note mumbo jumbo and the C minor A minor scale stuff and the letter notes and what not. theres gotta be a way to drill this stuff into my head cuz every article i read about guitars says something about that kinda stuff and it loses me. am i too noobish at guitar to learn any of this stuff??

[dean749]

Quite good and easy to learn but what fleh said points out its wrong???
how do i know im beginner haha
i hope im learning the right scale or something here!!

[EldonsName24]

I should use the Am Scale tune the guitar drop-D half a step down hehe: C#, G#, C#, F#, Bb, D#.

[MRWHITE35]

GWiz2 wrote:

Well... You kind of missed the mark here. You can't play Position 1 of Am pentatonic in other places on the fretboard (except at fret 17) and be in key. Here is the complete Am Pentatonic scale broken down by Positions 1 through 5. I think these are accurate as I don't have my guitar in front of me right now and I am going off of memory. I also included the scale pattern diagrams at the bottom to show a piture of how these scales break down.

Am Pentatonic Position 1
E|-----5---8---|
B|-----5---8-----|
G|-----5---7-----|

D|-----5---7-----|
A|-----5---7-----|
E|-5---8-----|

A m Pentatonic Position 2
E|-----8---10--|
B|-----8---10-----|
G|-----7---9-----|
D|-----7---10-----|
A|-----7---10-----|
E|-8---10-----|


Am Pentatonic Position 3
E|-----10--12---|
B|-----10--13-----|
G|-----9---12---- -|
D|-----10--12-----|
A|-----10--12-----|
E|-10--12----- |

Am Pentatonic Position 4
E|-----12--15---|
B|-----13--15-----|
G|-----12--14---- -|
D|-----12--14-----|
A|-----12--15-----|
E|-12--15----- |

Am Pentatonic Position 5
E|-----15--17---|
B|-----15--17-----|
G|-----14--17---- -|
D|-----14--17-----|
A|-----15--17-----|
E|-15--17----- |


R = ROOT (In this case A)

Am Pentatonic Position 1
R--|--|--X--|
X--|--|--X--|
X--|--X--|--|
X--|--R--|-- |
X--|--X--|--|
R--|--|--X--|
5th
Fret

Am Pentatonic Position 2
|--X--|--X--|
|--X--|--R--|
X--|--X--|--|
R--|--|--X-- |
X--|--|--X--|
|--X--|--X--|
7th
Fret

Am Pentatonic Position 3
|--X--|--X--|
|--R--|--|--X
X--|--|--X--|
|--X--|--X-- |
|--X--|--R--|
|--X--|--X--|
9th
Fret

Am Pentatonic Position 4
X--|--|--X--|
|--X--|--X--|
X--|--R--|--|
X--|--X--|-- |
R--|--|--X--|
X--|--|--X--|
12th
Fret

Am Pentatonic Position 5
|--X--|--R--|
|--X--|--X--|
R--|--|--X--|
X--|--|--X-- |
|--X--|--X--|
|--X--|--R--|
14th
Fret

Have fun and ROCK ON!

this is right not the first one thanks GWiz2

[JakoDog92]

I don't understand the pentatonic scale...

[*guitar*hero*]

THANKS A LOT brilliant lesson nd really helped me

[Hawkwing_21]

awesome lesson, well done

[kwikfingers-uk]

This lesson is right in what hes saying but ignore the tab cos it doesn't make sense...instead read Gwiz2's comments, hes tab's are right.

[biglaz84]

anyone who wants to know how to play certain scales just go to all-guitar-chords.com and they have every scale u could ever wanna learn laid out beautifully, boxes are good but they are hard to understand, this lays it all out in front of u and is much easier to digest