Major Pentatonics: Major Fun

Ok everybody has been here: you wanna learn to solo and you have heard about "pentatonic scales". Everybody says pentatonics are the way to go for improvisation (and they are a big help) but you have no idea how they work. This lesson is for you because I was there and although there are some really good lessons on this site about pentatonics, they are sometimes hard to understand without knowing some musical theory. Please read the first bit of the lesson, I know it seems like an endless page of bla bla and notes but I promise you that if you just read it, you will understand it and save yourself hours of figuring this stuff out from other lesson pages.

First I’m going to talk about the basic theory so that people will hopefully understand it, and then I’ll tab the patterns for those who just wanna “play the tabs” and don’t actually care.

A pentatonic a scale pattern with 5 notes (hence the term penta). Ok, well we know an normal major scale (also know as a ionian scale) is made up of 8. For example:

C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C

Ok so how we get a pentatonic scale from a major scale is by using the 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 notes of the scale. What does that mean?? Simple, count up starting from C. So C = 1, D = 2, E = 3, F = 4, G = 5, A = 6, B = 7, and C = octave or 8. Ok so now lets form the pentatonic à we have 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 which is C D E G A. Not too hard is it?? Ok lets analyse it a bit further..

In between every note, there is a # or sharp. The only exception to this is E and B. What does this mean? Ok there are 8 notes: A, B, C, D, E, F and G and in between all of them except B and E there are sharps, so we have: A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G. Ok so moving up from an note to a sharp (like an A to an A#, or an A# to a B) is called a semitone. On your guitar it is basically moving up a fret.

Anyways we learn the number of semitones between each note so that we can come up with a general forumla to make pentatonics. Going back to the C D E G A we have between C and D two semitones (C -> C# = 1, C# to D = 2). Ok between D and E is 2 semitones (D -> D# =1, D# -> E = 2). Between E to G is 3 semitones (E -> F =1, F -> F# = 2, F# -> G = 3). And finally between G and A is 2 semitones (G -> G# = 1, G# ->A = 2). All of these give us a general formula:

R (or root note) + 2 semitones + 2 semitones + 3 semitones + 2 semitones = five notes in the pentatonic scale. (or R + 2 + 2 + 3 + 2). Lets use some examples:

R = A -> A + 2 semitones (A -> A# = 1, A# -> B = 2) = B. 
B + 2 semitones (B -> C = 1, C -> C# = 2)= C#
C# + 3 semitones (C# -> D = 1, D -> D# = 2, D# -> E = 3) = E. 
E + 2 semitones (E -> F = 1, F -> F# = 2).

So we get A B C# E F# for the A Major Pentatonic scale. So the scales are:

A B  C# E  F#
B C# D# F# G#
C D  E  G  A
D E  F# A  B
E F# G# B  C#
F G  A  C  D
G A  B  D  E

OK now we got through all of that (make sure you remember that, it is very important) we can tab them. What is really cool is that they all descend in a specific pattern down, which is universal (like the formula). This pattern looks like this:

e|| - | - | o | - | R |
b|| - | - | o | - | o |
g|| - | o | - | o | - |
d|| - | o | - | - | R |
a|| - | o | - | - | o |
E|| - | - | R | - | o |
 ^ 
Nut

Don't be scared off just yet! I'll explain. Each R or 0 represents where your finger must go on the fretboard. The R's are simply there to show you where the root note is so that you know where to start your improvisation (I'll explain this bit later). Ok this diagram is universal, so each point on the diagram can be anywhere on the fretboard, depending on where you want to start.

Basically it looks like this when you play: Lets say you want to descend in C (which is the 8th fret of the 6th string) it looks like this:

e|| - | - | 8 | - | 10 |
b|| - | - | 8 | - | 10 |
g|| - | 7 | - | 9 | -  |
d|| - | 7 | - | - | 10 |
a|| - | 7 | - | - | 10 |
E|| - | - | 8 | - | 10 |

or in Tab form:

e|-------------------------8-10--------
B|--------------------8-10-------------
G|----------------7-9------------------
D|-----------7-10----------------------
A|------7-10---------------------------
E|-8-10--------------------------------

Ok, now how I use this to improvise?

Good question. First of all you have to know chords are used in the song. Lets make it a simple one. C, E, and G. Ok now we know what notes we should use in the scale so that it sounds good with the song. Ok second of all you need to know your fretboard! I found this website was useful in helping me memorize it (scroll down the page). Learn it and use programs like Fretboard warrior (download from here) for practice.

So you band is jamming in those three chords and they nodd and its your time to solo something. Ok so start with C so we can start at like the 10th fret on the 4th string. Descend the scale and play it back up. Then move down to the 12th fret on the 6th string which is an E, desend the scale and ascend it again. All that is just a simple form of improvisation. If you really want it to sound good, then you will be creative and do stuff like string skipping and hammerons, pulloffs, vibrato's.

Here is an example of a simple impro using no fancy techniques just descending the scale. It may not sound amazing but it still fits with the chords C E and G:

     C                   E
e|--------------8-10-11-12-13-14-12------------------ 
B|---------8-10--------------------14-12-------------
G|-----7-9-------------------------------13-11-------
D|--10----------------------------------------14-11--
A|---------------------------------------------------
E|---------------------------------------------------

  E               G    
e|-------------------------------13-15-15-15---------
B|-------------------------13-15-------------13-15---
G|----------------12-13-14---------------------------
D|-14-11-14-11-14------------------------------------
A|---------------------------------------------------
E|---------------------------------------------------

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

Pentatonic Majors sound good with metal, blues and even punk. Again its all about the way you decide to improvise it, I always end up making it sounds bluesy because that my style, but each for there own.

Ok so thats basically that. I will do a few more lessons based on this on pentatonic minors. It really really similair, and sounds really blues, and lots of metal.

Hope this helps, please email me at: [e-mail] for any further questions or if I wasn't clear enough, or made mistakes.

Comments

[Frikkie]

THX, thats exactly what i was looking for. Thank you for giving me a good life!

[Kingtab69]

Greatthank you

[Nightmare405]

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOLLL!

[Danny7]

Thanks for that.

Could someone give me the intervals for the minor key? 'Coz then I could work everythnig out from there.

[mdude]

kewl.. man u rox!!!

Could someone give me the intervals for the minor key?

[rulonholcomb]

sweet'a

[Scorpions]

this is awesome

j00 r0x0rs

[dar11guitlet29]

more lesson's please!!!

[choop]

right on! That was awesome.
how 'bout minor keys?

[joostluiten]

I'm kinda a guitar dummy so don't start nagging at me but I dont get this. I'm with it till he puts the scale in tab but I really don't see how that scale relates to the "solos"he gives you later. different notes in different order. Can somebody explain plz

[Moog3797]

i cant but i thought it was a great article, thanks man

[shorter_rocker]

Didn't help but...


Still good

[Mokumo]

this is exactly what i needed! you am god

[Dammit Missed T]

thanks man! been looking for a tutorial on this that actually explained it in simple terms, instead of just throwing theory at me!

[Mick Mackler]

Great lesson.

[Mute]

best title ever!
And everyone else seems to think the lesson is great too, so I will agree.

[The Lost Within]

congrats

[moshimoshi]

Although I already know the Major Pentatonic, I never made the connection between how to derive it from its corresponding Major Scale (1,2,3,5,6) Great Article

[VicMcnugget]

cool...

[-Quicksteel-]

That was awesome... I am fully impressed. it made alot of sense. thanx

[guitar_god92]

u r a god mate

[0bakaSan]

wow awesome lol i had to read some parts more than once but now i understand !!! tnx!

[Donny_R]

that was worth the time

[HardPlay]

Nice, but would've been better if you could include graphical layouts the fretboard showing the V different positions.

[Volkl]

Took me w hile to understand if fully, but noooice!

[GLADIATOR]

Feel the nobodies

[Rock 101]

Thank you! but how do you play in G, C, ect

[loonyguitarist]

minor is 1,3,4,5,7, so A minor is a,c,d,e,g. if that makes sense...

[aliceinnirvana]

I feel a breakthrough in my playing. Thanks.

[numbfinger]

i feel stupid
i still dont get it
every 1 else does

[Tom Trendy]

what i needed

[adm]

ahh bollox ran out of paper cool lesson

[farglesnuff]

ummm... in another article about pentatonics titled: "where to start with soloing" the scale is completely different... can someone tell me which is the right one?

[Murrizz]

Nice man.

[KHMaloney]

Awesome man. I just read everything and understood it all. This lesson is awesome. You explained everything perfectly and clearly, and got tonssss of good information in there too. Thanks man.

[nickb-y]

thank u the other lessons i have seen on this were too confusing

[Iboseth]

WOW thanks

[InanezGuitars44]

i dont get part of it. it has all the notes for the scale. i get that, but when he put the improvising part he used notes thast werent in the scale? im confused on that

[CSguitarvocal]

Right on! Great lesson! \m/

[lionheart0117]

Indeed, a very good lesson.

[Smitherz]

to the dude above about the scales, and how they not solos....


well hes way up there but if u look closely u usually can see the same, or similar structures of how the solos build up.

[ernie2489]

Cheers man, gr8 help!!

[heyska123]

Aye, thanks for all the help. Found it at the the exact right time to help me reach a new understanding....

[TwistedLogic]

Very well done, good writing and explanation of theory. Keep em coming!!

[imotept]

Yo this is very helpful, it helped me improve my speed

[casteel]

Again nice lesson! Do you have other lessons posted?

[casteel]

When will you have the minor pent scales up?

[sinister_steve]

i have a question why Between E to G is there 3 semitones?and why do you go from e to g when all the others go from one note to another note which is 2 notes, but with e to g you are going through 3 notes?it all made sence till i got to there,can you please help me out here..thanks..steve

[high voltage]

excellent lesson!

[master_gupi]

its interesting you know... i know that already....

amazin

loonyguitarist:
minor is 1,3,4,5,7, so A minor is a,c,d,e,g. if that makes sense...

Minor pentatonic is 1 b3 4 5 b7 in relation to the major scale.

[ctb]

Great lesson... *clicks 5 star rating*

[DeathBeyondLife]

im still confused

[starla87]

Wow... thank you. This was the lesson I needed precisely. Gold star: * * * * * A++

[S.M.F.666]

Thank you very much.

[Winters]

Awsome lesson man this helped out alot!

[linkamathing]

thanks

[Keefer]

Is it just me, or at the end when he says he's soloing in G, isn't it actually F?

The G pentatonic in that form goes up
e 15 17
b 15 17
g 14 16
d 14 17
a 14 17
E 15 17

I'm no whiz by any means, but I'm sorta confused...

[all that u are]

great lesson man

[Rashomon]

fabolous

Is it just me, or at the end when he says he's soloing in G, isn't it actually F?

What you tabbed is G major pentatonic. F would be the 13th fret of an E string.

-SD

[smalltollie]

This article is a great help. Really appreciated. But could someone please explain the root note to me? Cos in jelleman's example you say its in the key of C, but the 3 root notes are D,D and E. I don't follow?

[Rockfall]

e|| - | - | o | - | R |
b|| - | - | o | - | o |
g|| - | o | - | o | - |
d|| - | o | - | - | R |
a|| - | o | - | - | o |
E|| - | - | R | - | o |

youve put a root note in a diff place on each E string, wont it be:

e|| - | - | R | - | o |
b|| - | - | o | - | o |
g|| - | o | - | o | - |
d|| - | o | - | - | R |
a|| - | o | - | - | o |
E|| - | - | R | - | o |

[bodomination]

not bad dood... great help in understandings \m/^_^\m/

[SmoofMoof]

I am a dumbass and realy do not understand! sorry i have faild you

[SmoofMoof]

\m/^_^\m/

[CrazyLikeaFox]

amazing, finally someone who actually took the time to explain it to us people who dont get things so easily, 5 stars!

[imcfox87]

this is ok, its right i think from what i breezed through. but the majority of solos are based on the minor pentatonic scale.

[Surf3r]

That was so awsome! Man you Rock! Cheesey name though lol!

[StephnG]

All the information I was looking for, plus some more. Very nice. Kudos to you.

[yellowputty]

Brilliant. Thanks for your time.

[djfaustino]

fretboard warrior really helps... try it.

[Darryl]

e|-----7-9-10-11-12-10---
--10-12-14-19-----||
B|-
--7-9-----12-10-----12-10
-----||
G|-9-----11-9---
--11-9-----||
D|-----12-
9-----12-9-----||
A|----
-12-10-----||
E|-----||



I don't think you would see it well but if you do could you tell me if my small lick is good.it is made from the pentatonics g,e and d.it is not much but for the first time improvising with pentatonics personally I think it is good.could someone give me his opinion on my small lick??

[Darryl]

by the way the lesson was awsome thanks dude!!!

keep on jammin!!!!!

[Darryl]

by the way the lesson was awsome thanks dude!!!

keep on jammin!!!!!

[Renegade8704]

why is everyone so against theory? are people so lazy that they won't learn something that's valuable to a musician. Music is built on theory. Do yourselves a favor and stop b!tching and learn a little.

[notoriousnumber]

and of course you get that impression from all the people up there saying "great guide" and "helped alot"
hey it seemed they learned alot, as did i

[ironwill]

just like a real guitar guru...thanks bro...

[noobistic]

it was fine but the lesson was too long shorten it would be better

[metalfury]

Sweet lesson man!

[corvettecris]

Thanks. Great starting point.

[corvettecris]

Thanks! Great starting point.

[atkm2891]

thats great, i had no idea what
e|| - | - | o | - | R |
b|| - | - | o | - | o |
g|| - | o | - | o | - |
d|| - | o | - | - | R |
a|| - | o | - | - | o |
E|| - | - | R | - | o |
meant

[gibsonline6]

thanks man, great way to base a few more solo's on

[UnholyDemon]

Awesome...now I can contribute some of these into my own solos..

[fingersofflame]

now that's what i'm talkin bout! nice job man...

[Raven1990]

awesome lesson! cheers m8

[dash_right]

minor key intervals are 1 b3 4 5 b7

[cabbaman98]

ayy ur brillaint u helped alot ur amazing

[Drew11]

awwwww man!! im ****ing confused!!!

[undone89]

Man, I was seriously about to just give up on learning scales until I read this. I took this home and tried this out and began applying it to my music almost as soon as I learned it. I'm kind of shocked this didn't recieve that coveted "10" rating.

[mik0]

thanks a lot pal!

[hippieboy444]

Its cool, but I dont understand. Somebody help me by emailing me at [e-mail]!!!!!

[hippieboy444]

okay.....tis only ok..

[nickgoh]

pretty clear man... awesome... thumbs up! =)

[matx33]

joostluiten :
I'm kinda a guitar dummy so don't start nagging at me but I dont get this. I'm with it till he puts the scale in tab but I really don't see how that scale relates to the "solos"he gives you later. different notes in different order. Can somebody explain plz

well in the solo at the end starting in c (d string 10th fret), that c is a root note. it helps to have a scale explained in colour, but bear with me. so because this note is the root of the scale, that's what your scale is played in. he could also have started it on the low e string (6th string) at the 8th fret. hope this helped a bit.

[tuluks]

at last a person who explains in dummy language and not in this theory crap... im sure theory will help later on but this is a gud start.
cheers bro.

[WantToLearn]

I really don't understand any of this

[ibanez916]

WantToLearn wrote:

I really don't understand any of this

neither do i. those diagrams r wat did it for me. i understand the tabs but wat r the little circles for.

[hippieboy444]

i understood. I hate the sound of major penotonics, try minor scales

[bassman182]

wow, great lesson man, this really helped me understand it alot, thanks a mill bro!

[RS-GUITARIST]

Sweet Jesus!!!

[RS-GUITARIST]

I am beginning to understand!

[alifffirdaus]

dude..this is awesome..thanks..it really helps..thank you for the link too..

[ibanez1313]

I would rephrase the description of flats and sharps at the beginning of the article. Instead of:

Ok there are 8 notes: A, B, C, D, E, F and G and in between all of them except B and E there are sharps

it should say

Each letter can be raised a half-step, or semi-tone,(1 fret) which is called a Sharp, or lowered, which is a Flat. I.e. G raised a fret is G#, A lowered a fret is Ab, and G# and Ab are the same note. The exception is between B and C, and between E and F, where raising one fret,semi-tone,orhalfstep
takes you to the next letter. I.e. E raised a fret is F, C lowered a fret is B.


Hope that helped.
(hint... look at the keys of a piano. the black keys are the sharps/flats. Between b and c, and e and f there is no black key.)

[rchpman]

awesome!!!! i just got into taking the guitar seriously and this really helped me undertsand how all the notes come together while improvising. it also made me learn hoe the fretboard is arranged. GREAT JOB!!!!!

[nostrnstripe4me]

good job deffinately helped me exactly what i was looking 4

[fiestycadavers]

Stop ****ing about with this theory. Learn how to tune your guitar... then play it as you feel it. A scale is the equivalent to a child's picture. With rules to say that a house should really be drawn on grass and not in the middle of the page, or notes should be arranged this way, because this is how it's correctly done! Forget what you have learnt here today and do something unorthodox, God forbid, different maybe...

[greenpic]

nice

[ZAURIS]

GREATEST TUTORIAL ON PENTATONIC's

I think in every tutorial, theory should be introduced as you did here!

THANKS A LOT!\m/

[gibson sg!]

w00t perfect!!!\m/^_^\m/.....perfect lesson!thts how its done

[HyperOlaf]

YOU. ARE. GOD. *Gives praise and bows because he is not worthy* This was the best tutorial I've ever seen. And it helped me out a ton.

[Talmir]

I was thinking about this just before I read this and didnt understand how the notes related to each other.

Now I know... Damn good lesson. For those that didnt understand the lesson. Read it again.

[Talmir]

Ibanez1313: His explenation was oh so much simpler.

[Phantoms 2010]

yeeeeesssss

[TappingGuitar]

So far, I only opened these links you wrote (f.ex.fretboard-warrior). I love them. This is exactly what I was looking for. I would really appreciate it, if anybody could write a list of good Web-Sites which offer free software or lessons for guitar. Thank you very much.

[krigen]

this is one of the best lesons that i have seen in the web, so thx

[krigen]

[blinkkink182]

best lesson . finally one that makes sense to noobies

[Halenrockr]

Sweet

[Manus Celer Dei]

i don't get it at all

[elcaballo]

keep on rockin bro

[guitaringsailor]

great lesson, had already figured a lot out myself but this was hte final touch now i think i get it completely =) thanks a lot

[asdj]

i dont get this. the thing says 12 13 14 but the scale doesnt go that far

[††m@tt_heafy††]

nice lesson

[pac_man21]

Great lesson. Like many others I learnt the scales but havent been able tio use them to their full potential. After reading this Im sure ill be able to make it work alot better.

Many thanks

[Polishboy656]

:-@

[stratkat]

Thank you so much, I'm gonna go memorize the notes on the guitar, I've already noticed a patern, so it shouldn't take to long, it'll be hell of a lot easier then school work.

[ISTOKER AKO]

This lesson really helped me get back on my guitar.
I stopped for 2 years being so frustrated that im not improving,Thanks Man,Now i sleep 4:30 in the morning practicing.

Brilliant lesson

[marcoRAKIZTA]

hei oh my friend is this lesson right or another form of sh!t??

[marcoRAKIZTA]

oh my friend i have a very big problem
can you help me w/ your scaling lesson the effective one that helps my little finger to move?^^/

[Nirvana_man_1]

awesome!!!!!

[shadowGround]

yea very nice indeed,
but question:
-ok its called major pentatonic because its derived from the major scale, but why 1,2,3,5,6? it is the kind of thing you simply learn by heart and don't get to ask why?
-you get the interval from that 1,2,3,5,6 thing, so is it a standard you can reuse on any other scales?ab major or whatever?and when it gets to minor i'm guessing its another interval..?
cheers

[grrrd_xavier]

just made my day man.

[Gu1tar K1d]

Despite playing for a year and a half, I never learnt this. Darn teacher... anyway, that's fixed now. Great, easy to follow and to the point. Thanks!

[GU1T4R-H3R0]

InanezGuitars44 wrote:

i dont get part of it. it has all the notes for the scale. i get that, but when he put the improvising part he used notes thast werent in the scale? im confused on that

as the chords change he changes what scale he plays, so say the first chord is a C you play a C scale then when the chord changes to E you can play an E scale, he is just playing notes in different scales to stay within the chord progression

[GU1T4R-H3R0]

oh forgot to mention, you can also play the same scale an octive up. for instence if you want to play a G major pentatonic scale which normally starts on the 3rd fret on the low E string, you can also play the same scale with the same pattern starting on the 15th fret on the low E string for those screaming high pitched solos

[Beavshak]

very helpful thanks

[Sicking]

Thanks a lot for this lesson dude i really appriciated it help me alot understanding certain stuff and made it more clear well done!

[Shabalaba]

very nice

[GibsonRocker14]

awesome

[loothed.exe]

dude!....the first R and O diagram has a kinda flaw on the e string.....the R should be where the O is.....if you play on A scale i dont see why B should be a root note...


and btw...good lession!...learnt pretty much!..

[Nhex]

the only lesson that made me understand something about this

[morsie]

Thank you for this man. Now i can improvise and write solos. I also use the scale pattern to strenghtin my fingers, thank you!!!!!

[GitarrAbbe]

I dont rally understand the connection between 123456 and CDEFGABC? :/ i really need to know this to come any further

[TripleN666]

thank you very much.

[mrg54]

That was really well done. Thanks heaps

[Zayker0]

Exellent!

[Zayker0]

Keefer wrote:

Is it just me, or at the end when he says he's soloing in G, isn't it actually F?

The G pentatonic in that form goes up
e 15 17
b 15 17
g 14 16
d 14 17
a 14 17
E 15 17

I'm no whiz by any means, but I'm sorta confused...

i noticed the same, in the 12 13 14 part, 12 belongs to the F pattern, so the C D E G A is not being respected. :/

correct me if im wrong...

[dragonball]

im Confused !!

[koji_rx7]

wow, is my first scale lesson and i got it very quick,only for your clears explications... thanks man!!!!!

[xvasmx]

Hooww doo u know when to hit the notes????Like for example you have C E G chords do u have to hit C notes for Cchords D notes for Dchords and G notse for Gchords?????

[fred_slayer]

nice and simple

[lmb.f.gd's lamb]

nice~!!!!!

[Joesatrianirock]

Huh

[dukeymeister7]

sweet!!!!! Duke O'Neill O"NEILL

[Necropolis]

great article dude, there wasn't too much reading so i kinda got it until it started getting kinda long but that's just me... hehe i'm near hopeless when it comes to musical theory...

[gregshow]

this was very very helpful, thx

[Hp312]

awesome man, startin to get this now, hopefully with a few more runs through I'l have it down. thanks again dude!

[ShreddyKickflip]

THANK YOU GOD!!! I've been trying to learn pentatonics forever and everyone just says "it's I, III, IV, VI, and I you freakin idiot!" even though it's not that at all! thank you sooo much for giving us an easy to understand lesson that will help a lot in the future.

[MitsMuts]

youre the best

[Ideka]

Talmir wrote:

Ibanez1313: His explenation was oh so much simpler.

yeah but it's not as complete as Ibanez1313's.

[beardownboiler]

fantastic, one of the best lessons on the site.

[Lotsagrapes]

Cool story bro.

[edsel114]

what songs uses these scales?

[carpe diem 101]

Awesome tab man. Helped me out a ton, although I did have a small hiccup on the diagram for the formula. I think on the high e string you meant to have the diagram look like this:
|-|-|R|-|0|
Am I right?
Still, it's a 10 for me.

[iorek byrnison]

You are my hero.

[surbus]

i sorta half understand soloing now, think i just need to know my fretboard a bit better and the rest will naturally come

great help man!

[Steiger]

If I am not mistaken, this is the second position of the pentatonic minor? I fully understood the notation until the last descent in (G) 15-12, 15-12, 15-12?
Maybe someone could explain this.
Cheers, good lesson!!!!