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Learn Guitar Trick #8 – Minor Pentatonic Scale System A minor

By Mike Hayes | January 6, 2010

Guitar players love to play in ‘guitar friendly’ keys such as the
keys of E, A, D and G, these keys showcase the crisp, clear sound
of the open stings particularly on acoustic guitar, it’s these
keys that guitarists are most likely to play in at jam sessions
so it pays to be prepared.

I recommend learning how to play scales in these keys all over
the fingerboard so you will have enough confidence to take a
impromptu solo if the opportunity presents itself.

Today our focus will be on the key of A

Minor pentatonic scale system – A minor

The notes in the A minor pentatonic scale are:

A – C – D – E – G – (A)

If you played these notes anywhere on the guitar fingerboard you
will be playing the A minor pentatonic scale.

Here’s the most common fingering pattern for the scale

A – using your first finger behind the fifth fret, sixth string

C – played with the fourth finger, fret eight, sixth string

D – first finger, fifth fret, fifth string

E – played with your third finger behind the seventh fret, fifth
string

G – first finger, fifth fret, fourth string

A Minor pentatonic scale pattern

—————————
—————————
—————————
——————-5—[7]-
———–5—7———–
-[5]—8——————-

Keynotes indicated as [ ]

Here is the same scale one octave higher.

A minor pentatonic one octave higher:

———————-[5]-
————–5—8——-
——5—7—————
-[7]———————-
————————–
————————–

Now for another popular way to play the A minor pentatonic
scale:

———————————
———————————
———————————
————————-5—[7]-
————-3—5—7———–
—3—[5]———————–

Keynotes or root notes as they are also called are your
reference points in the scale, they are the notes that the scale
takes it’s name from e.g., the note on the sixth string, fifth
fret is called A, similarly the note on the four string, seventh
fret is also called A and as you can see I’ve marked them as
keynotes for the A minor pentatonic scale.

Try practicing the A minor pentatonic over pre-recorded chord
progression such as …

Typical chord progression(s) would be:

A /// | C /// | D /// | E /// ||

or

A /// | C /// |E /// | D /// ||

Contemporary songwriters often create chord progressions derived
from the notes in the pentatonic scale, try making your own
progressions using the notes in the scale.

It’s a good idea to start with the keynote (A) although you
certainly don’t have to.

A – C – D – E – G – (A)

As you play the scale over your pre-recorded background listen
carefully to how each note sounds, notice how the notes of the
scale take on a different character, a different musical weigh or
density when they are played over different chords.

It’s this type of practice that will eventually give you that all
important ‘brain to hand’ coordination and control over your
musical raw materials that will enable you can freely express
yourself on the guitar.

And now I’d like to invite you to get free access to my “How To
Remember 1,000 Songs” eCourse. You can download the course for
free at: http://www.guitarcoaching.com

You’ll learn about hit song templates, simple scales, easy chords, red hot rhythms, and successful practice strategies in text, audio and video.

From Mike Hayes – The Guitar Coaching Guy & the Express Guitar
System

Topics: Beginner Guitar Lesson, Guitar Fretboard, Guitar Tips, guitar scales | No Comments »

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