Learn Minor Pentatonic Scale Patterns Fast

Having a solid knowledge of pentatonic scales is one of the absolute basics for learning to play killer lead guitar solos. The good news is that pentatonic scales are fairly easy to learn and can make you sound like a pro in a very short period of time. These scales are used throughout rock and blues and many other styles of music as well.

A pentatonic scale contains 5 notes, the root of the chord, the flat 3rd, the 4th, the 5th, and the flat 7th. So if we look at the A minor pentatonic scale we have the notes A, C, D, E, and G.

The cool thing about this type of scale is that it eliminates the most dissonant notes, so that pretty well any note you play will sound good with the chords in that key.

So, how can you find the right notes on the fretboard? All scales on the guitar can be organized into a series of patterns, which are fairly easy to memorize with a bit of practice. Here are the 5 patterns of the A minor pentatonic scale:

Pattern 1

-----------------------------------------5--8--------
---------------------------------5--8----------------
-------------------------5--7------------------------
-----------------5--7--------------------------------
---------5--7----------------------------------------
-5--8------------------------------------------------

 

Pattern 2

----------------------------------------------8--10--
-------------------------------------8--10-----------
-----------------------------7--9---------------------
--------------------7--10----------------------------
----------7--10--------------------------------------
-8--10-----------------------------------------------

 

Pattern 3

------------------------------------------------------10--12---
-------------------------------------------10--13--------------
----------------------------------9--12-------------------------
-----------------------10--12----------------------------------
------------10--12---------------------------------------------
-10--12--------------------------------------------------------

 

Pattern 4

---------------------------------------------------------12--15--
---------------------------------------------13--15--------------
----------------------------------12--14-------------------------
-----------------------12--14------------------------------------
------------12--15-----------------------------------------------
-12--15----------------------------------------------------------

 

And finally pattern 5 which you can start at either the 15th fret or the 3rd fret.

Pattern 5

----------------------------------------3--5---
---------------------------------3--5----------
-------------------------2--5------------------
-----------------2--5--------------------------
---------3--5----------------------------------
-3--5------------------------------------------

 

Note that each of these patterns starts on a different note of the pentatonic scale. Pattern 1 starts on A, and plays the notes A C D E and G in order, while pattern 2 starts on C and plays D E G and A, pattern 3 starts on D and so on.

Start with one pentatonic scale at a time

The best way to learn these is to stick to one scale at a time. Play through each pattern of the A minor pentatonic as a scale to get used to it, and then gradually start to experiment, playing the different notes of the scale in any way that sounds cool. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can catch on and how good it will sound.

As you get more advanced, start combining the patterns within each scale. Play a few notes in pattern one, then drop down to pattern 5, then maybe slide up to some high notes in pattern 4 for dramatic effect. It’s up to you and this is where you get to use your creativity and really open up the fretboard.

To play a minor pentatonic scale in a different key, the patterns will remain the same, but you’ll be starting each one from a different fret. For example, a D minor pentatonic scale in pattern 1 will start on the D on the 6th string, that is, the 10th fret. You can figure out the remaining patterns from there.