PENTATONICISM

This is a huge post. Take some time to read over it carefully by going someplace quiet. Sometimes, studying the guitar away from the guitar is exactly what you need. Lets get started:

What do I mean by Pentatonicism? Sounds like some kind of mystical power or something.

It simply means everything pentatonic. From the scale, to the shapes, to the harmony and the melodies you can compose with this scale.

I wanted to cover everything I know about the pentatonic and everything that I didn’t know as well. If I leave something out, I will most likely cover it in a later lesson.

I will show you everything I know about the Pentatonic Scale. Hopefully it will keep you busy for some time to come. You will surely learn a lot especially if you are new to it.

The topics I will cover will be the following, (although not all in this single post):

Chords

Scale Shapes

Arpeggios

Blues

Harmony

Strategies on Improvising

Backing Tracks (scale tones only)

2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 string methodology.

I will show you how to mix shapes across the fretboard.

More sequences

Melodies

Phrasing

Speed Licks

Pinch Harmonics

Composing Solos

2 Note Phrasing Strategy

3 Note Solo Strategy

Pentatonic Scale Octave Chords

Diads Using the Pentatonic Scale (3rds)

Odd Meters

Pentatonic Arpeggios

Pentatonic Sweeping

Arpeggio then Scale Exercises

Combining Shapes

3 Note Per String

Single String

Single String Arpeggios

The Minor Pentatonic over the ii and iii and vi chord of any major key. Or over any i iv and v of any minor key.

The Dorian Mode

Rhythm

Lead

Theory

Patterns

Licks

Riffs

Chords, Scales and Arpeggios

First off, I’m going to refer you to my Pentatonic Punishment book where you can see all the scales shapes of each and every key both major and minor. If you know your shapes already or if you know them in at least one key thats fine, you can keep reading.

Even if you don’t, you can still learn a lot from this book without going through the ebook. Its only $1

I wrote that ebook sort of as a predecessor to this post. It was meant as a workout, to learn the shapes and fly all over the neck as quickly as possible.

Pentatonic Chords (Harmony)

These chords use solely the 5 notes of the pentatonic scale thus giving you authentic pentatonic harmony and not harmony mixed with the minor scale

Thats actually the main reason for this post. It was to introduce and examine the Pentatonic scale across the neck using only the 5 notes of the pentatonic scale. This way you get true pentatonic sound without any interruption from any other notes outside of the scale.

When you use outside notes of the pentatonic scale it is no longer considered pentatonic. So there you have it. Limits. Thats what this is about. It’s about limits. Its about limiting yourself to 5 notes and producing beautiful harmonies and melodies for you to share with the world, or simply enjoy for yourself.

I felt the need for this type of post because I was never introduced to the scale in this way. In this way I saw the scale for what it really is. I wanted to see the scale laid out before me in a way where I was using solely the 5 notes of the Pentatonic scale.

This seemed highly interesting to me because I was never given this type of instruction from my previous teachers. I tried to make this as thorough as possible since its only the thorough books and lessons that I keep going back to year after year.

If you’ve come across my ebooks, you will see that I have included scales, chords and progressions in ALL keys.

Next is a book with scales and arpeggios in all keys. In fact, its already under way as you read this. If you sign up to my newsletter or simply email me you will be notified the moment it comes out.

I want to make you the best possible player you can be. I want to free you from the frustrations of learning guitar. The only way to do that in my opinion is to COMMIT to HARD WORK and REPETITION.

HARD WORK AND REPETITION will get you further than you ever imagined.

Commitment to those 2 things will take you beyond what you thought was possible. When I first started learning guitar I had no concept of the deep, musical abyss that can be music. Music is a lifetime thing. I highly suggest you COMMIT to music if you want to be a musician. It is the greatest thing you can do for yourself if you are passionate and purposeful about your passion.

Below are the chords that are derived solely from the Pentatonic scale in A Minor but first let me explain how the chords were built…

Chords Built from the Minor Pentatonic Scale

The scale formula is – 1 b3 4 5 b7.

Chord options for the i chord

i – 1 b3 5

sus4 – 1 5 and 4

i5 (Power Chord) – 1 and 5

i minor 7 – 1 b3 5 b7

Minor 7sus4 – 1 b3 5 b7

i add11 – 1 b3 5 11

i add11(no5) – 1 b3 11

Chord options for the iii chord

III5 – 1 and 5

III – 1 3 and 5

III6 – 1 3 and 6

III9 – 1 3 5 and 9

III6/9 – 1 3 6 and 9

Chord options for the iv chord

iv5 – 1 and 5

ivsus4 – 1 5 and 4

7sus4add9 – 1 4 5 b7 and 9 – uses all 5 notes

Chord options for the v chord

v – 1 and b3

vadd11(no 5) – 1 b3 11

v7(no 5) – 1 b3 b7

v7(#5) – 1 b3 #5 b7 …Em7#5 aka (Cadd9 1st inversion)

Chord options for the VII chord

VII5 – 1 and 5

VII – 1 3 5

VIIadd9 (no3) – 1 5 9

You can have 4 (True) Power chords –

i III iv and VII

2 true triads

i and III – A C E = A minor and C E G = C Major

I use the word “true”, because you can not have a true D minor chord because there is no F in the A Minor Pentatonic Scale. IF you use this chord, you will sound more like you are in the Key of A Minor, not the key of A minor pentatonic so to speak. Its not really a key in itself its just a way of restricting our selves to 5 notes to see what possible magic can come of this composing technique of limiting ourselves to 5 notes.

Below is a pdf containing the chords in A minor…Pick a few and explore them on the neck. Knowing these chords well can help you with navigating the fretboard and for chord tones for solos.

Pentatonic Harmony (Chords)

.

Now lets talk about how to practice the actual scales…

MIXING SHAPES ACROSS THE BOARD

This exercise is mostly for soloing although you can gather up some nice riffs by exploring the shapes chord wise meaning double and triple stops. Start by playing the scale shapes melodically meaning not up and down.

Practice going up Shape 1 and down shape 2 in one octave, on the bottom 3 strings. It looks like this in ascending notes…A C D E G A… and in shape 2 the descending notes look like this… C A G E D C…and finally back to shape 1’s A.

Now that you can play comfortably (in one octave) going in and out of shape 1 and 2, try shape 1 and shape 3. Then try shape 1 and shape 4 and finally shape 1 and shape 5.

Keep going with this order. Shape 2 and shape 1. Shape 2 and shape 3. 2 and 4. 2 and 5.

Then 3 and 1. 3 and 2. 3 and 4. 3 and 5.

4 and 1. 4 and 2. 4 and 3. 4 and 5.

5 and 1. 5 and 2. 5 and 3. 5 and 4.

After you are done doing this you can explore the shapes on the bottom 3 strings, strings 5 4 and 3 and then 4 3 and 2.

There is no pdf here because its better that you know your neck rather than always relying on tab.

Chords Associated with the Shapes

Shape 1 is right on the i chord.

Shape 2 is on the III chord.

Shape 3 is on the iv chord.

Shape 4 is on the v chord.

Shape 5 is on the VII chord.

What I mean by this is that these shapes are in the exact same fret as the chords mentioned above. In A Minor, shape 1 starts on the 6th string fret 5 and so does the Am barre chord or A5 power chord. The 2nd shape which is also known as the major pentatonic, is on the 8th fret and so is the C Major or C5 power chord. The 3rd shape is exactly where the Dm chord is or the D5 chord on the 10th fret. Shape 4 is on fret 12 where E Minor sits and finally shape 5 is on fret 3 or 15 where G Major or G5 is.

This holds true for all minor keys. You don’t need to worry about the major keys since they are all relatives of these minor keys. You already know them. There is no need to know them from the Major perspective but you can if you want to. If you know them because you studied the Major pentatonic first then thats okay, keep it like that in your head. Its whatever is easier for you. If you learned them with the minor pentatonic first then keep them like that in your head.

I won’t get into the Major perspective since it simply starts on Shape 2.

SEQUENCES

If you want your technique to improve this is a great way to go through the shapes. Ive listed some of the ways you can play the scales which allow you to come up with interesting scale runs if you like to shred. If you don’t like to shred you can simply go slower and come up with cool, melodic lines. Either way, sequences will help you out navigating the fretboard while improving your technique.

Up 3 notes form the 1st note, then up 3 notes from the 2nd note and so on…do the same when you descend the scale. Up 3 strings from the 6th string, then up 3 strings from the 5th, the 4th and finally the 3rd. Do the same descending – down 3 strings from string 1, down 3 strings from string 2 and so on… 1st note, 2nd note and 1st note again. 2nd note, 1st note and back to 2nd note. Do this pattern on each string. String Skips Descending Runs 3rds Up 3 notes Up 4 strings, come back down 1 string and then up the last 4 strings 3 notes per string doubling up each string Doubling up each note Tripling up each note Quadrupling up each note Up 4 notes from each subsequent note of the scale String skipping Connecting adjacent shapes Connecting non-adjacent shapes

Feel free to combine any of the sequences to come up with your own as well as fresh ways to run up and down the neck.

FINGERING THE SHAPES

Im gonna suggest 2 types of fingering here:

One is to use each subsequent finger for each note. For whole steps you can use fingers 1 and 2 or 1 and 3. For minor 3rd’s use 1 and 3, or 1 and 4.

This means you can try the scales with each fingering and see which one works best for you. Practice as much as you can, on a daily basis preferably. The more dexterity you have the better off you will be.

PHRASING

OK now were going to get into some phrasing techniques.

Slides

Bends – half, whole and step and a half bends

Vibrato – Wide and Narrow

Bent Note Vibrato

Pinch Harmonics

Trills

Tremolo

Legato

Staccato

These phrasing techniques will add sugar and spice to the notes you choose to play. Try sliding into every note of the pentatonic scale to get warmed up. Make sure it sounds good and always use your ears.

How to Slide

You can slide into and out of notes. When you slide you cannot hit a wrong note and then slide into a right one if thats the note you want to emphasize. You want to emphasize the chord tone or your target note.

A better, easier way to look at what notes to bend from is one thats in the actual scale you are using. In the above example F# is not in the scale. But G is. So is E and So is D and C. Any one of these notes are good notes to start your slide on. Either way, you usually dont hear the first note anyway so concentrate on emphasizing the target note by using fast slides. If you decide to use slower types of slides, be cognizant of what note you begin the slide on. You want a note preferably from the scale. You have to do this tastefully, meaning you apply the most pressure to the string when you reach your target note.

When you’re done, you’re going to eliminate some of those slides and use them sparingly over a recording of your own or any backing track or drum track. This is called – “working your phrasing”. When you work your phrasing you are making an other wise dull sounding melody or motive sound exquisitely well. It pops with feeling.

For example: 2 notes played as quarter notes can sound bland if you just play them with the same attack and the same monotonous volume or dynamics. If you bend up to one note from a half step below and then slide into note number 2, now we’re talking. Now were using phrasing to make otherwise dull notes sound amazing! Thats pretty much what phrasing is. Taking any note or set of notes and making them sound amazing! You try to get the most bang for your buck. The most juice out of those notes that you possibly can.

How to Practice Bends

Using a backing track, a drumbeat or a metronome you are then going to bend every note of the scale to the next note of the scale. For some notes you will not be able to do this in some parts of the neck, don’t worry about just do the ones you can for now. Your fingers will get stronger as you go.

Let’s get into some licks now:

LICKS

Below are 8 different licks that can be transposed into any other key. Feel free to make them longer or shorter, change up the rhythm or even add some unique phrasing of your own to them.

PINCH HARMONICS

Try employing pinch harmonics on every single note on your guitar. This means every single note of every single key on every single string.

Do this over time of course, but try to get these pinch harmonics in as many places as possible. When I started trying to generate pinch harmonics, it was a mess, but nowadays I can do them without even thinking about them. They come really easy. One day I just woke up and starting pinching like a pro but it wasn’t until I had done months of practicing. You basically touch the note with the edge of your thumb and the pick at the same time and then release it really quickly. Theres all sorts of videos on the internet but like I said it was tons of practice for me.

WRITE some melodies

Instead of writing licks and solos right off the bat shoot for a melody. Shoot for melody first. Once you have a solid melody you can expand on that melody. Then you can have a climax and throw some of your favorite licks in there. This way every solo you ever create will sound fresh and new.

Lets do some more Pentatonic Harmony now…

More on PENTATONIC HARMONY

Wow, pentatonic harmony. I love harmony. Ever since day one when I first picked up my white Squier Stratocaster, all I wanted to hear was a wall of sound. Not sure why this is but its what I wanted. I went straight to chords and skipped all the scale stuff. I hated solos. I later realized that I hated solos, melodies and lead guitar because I simply didn’t know how to play for real yet. Go figure.

We are going to be building chords in the key of E minor. The chords we will build will come solely from 5 notes. The reason for this is to fully understand the Pentatonic Scale. You can definitely add chords from the diatonic scale and shred with pentatonic scales over them, but I want you to understand the chords that come solely from using the 5 notes of the scale. Its pretty cool, stick around…

Chords

If we are in E Minor (E G A B D) and we only use the 5 notes of the E Minor Pentatonic Scale we get the following chords:

E5 Esus4 Em Em7 Em7sus4

A5 Asus4 Am7(no3) A9(no3) Asus4add9

D5 D5add9 D6(no3) D6/9(no3) (D and E)

G5 G6 G9 G6/9

Bm(no5) Bsus4(no5) Bm7sus4 (no5) Boctave(addb6) (aka g 1st inver)

All of these chords are just like the chart above. Play around with them, explore them and have fun with them. Record some of the chords and practice some of the licks above or your own licks. You can easily do this on your phone. I like to use the voice memos app. I also like to use Amplitube 4. Both of these are very simple to use.

C Minor Pentatonic

Cm7

C5

Eb5

F5

Bb5

Cmadd4

Eb6/9

Ebadd6

Ebadd9

Csus4

C7sus4

Ebsus2

Fsus2

Fsus4

F7sus2

F7sus4

Bbsus2

Bbsus4

G Minor Pentatonic

Gm7

G5

Bb5

C5

F5

Gmadd4

Bb6/9

Bbadd6

Bbadd9

Gsus4

G7sus4

Bbsus2

Csus2

Csus4

C7sus2

C7sus4

Fsus2

Fsus4

D Minor Pentatonic

Dm7

D5

F5

G5

C5

Dmadd4

F6/9

Fadd6

Fadd9

Dsus4

D7sus4

Fsus2

Gsus2

Gsus4

G7sus2

G7sus4

Csus2

Csus4

A Minor Pentatonic

Am7

A5

C5

D5

G5

Amadd4

C6/9

Cadd6

Cadd9

Asus4

A7sus4

Csus2

Dsus2

Dsus4

D7sus2

D7sus4

Gsus2

Gsus4

E Minor Pentatonic

Em7

E5

G5

A5

D5

Emadd4

G6/9

Gadd6

Gadd9

Esus4

E7sus4

Gsus2

Asus2

Asus4

A7sus2

A7sus4

Dsus2

Dsus4

B Minor Pentatonic

Bm7

B5

D5

E5

A5

Bmadd4

D6/9

Dadd6

Dadd9

Bsus4

B7sus4

Dsus2

Esus2

Esus4

E7sus2

E7sus4

Asus2

Asus4

F#Minor

C#Minor

Eb Minor

Bb Minor

F Minor

PENTATONIC SCALE OCTAVE CHORDS

This is something you may or may not have thought of using. Simply double the actual note an octave higher and play the scale like that as a melody, a riff or chords. Yes they are single notes being used in the chords but the other notes can be implied, meaning they don’t actually have to be present in the guitar chord for you to have a melody or solo on top of the chord.

These chords also give a fresh sound. Try them out on all sets of strings. Strings 6 and 4; strings 5, and 3; 4, and 2; and 3, and 1.

Here you can see them on the pdf:

Pentatonic Punishment excerpts:

These are excerpts from my Pentatonic Punishment which you can pick up by clicking on the link. It has all shapes in all keys.

Im a shredder at heart. I love ripping through scales over backing tracks. But I didn’t always know how to do this. It was a long, arduous journey but worth every penny spent and every drop of sweat. Ive been teaching guitar for about 8 years now. One thing I learned is that a lot of students want it (now), meaning they want their skills now and don’t want to work for it. They want the convenience of being able to solo and play like a virtuoso without going through what virtuosos go through.

By reading this book it shows me that you are better than the average student already because your mindset is there. A mindset of willingness and open mindedness. A mindset that knows that you can always be better.

There will always be a better player. The person you have to beat is the player you were yesterday. Come in to your practice room with that mindset everyday and I guarantee you will blow yourself away.

Put in the work. Learn the scales and do it slowly. Then come back and do it again and again until you have it down packed.

If theres one major piece of advice I can give to you right now in this moment, I would tell you to be comfortable with repetition. An absurd amount of repetition. If you can be comfortable with this you’ll do just fine.

Shred on.

– MS

Can You Really Learn to Fly Across the Neck?

The answer is a resounding YES. You must believe this. You must learn this for yourself that SELF BELIEF is the key. You’re going to need at least 5 things that have nothing to do with the guitar. That was number one. Believe. You Gotta Believe.

Recap:

Self Belief

Metronome

Time

Discipline

Absurd Amounts of Repetition

Keep revisiting this exact post as I will keep adding to it, covering the rest of the topics.

photo by:

Cristian Guanipa