Where do I Start?E Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale
The Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale
This is such an important scale to learn - especially if you are beginning your journey in learning guitar and scales for lead solo work that I had to put this page up. For those of you who have already started using the EasyLead Guitar Note Map, you already are way ahead on this topic and this scale.
But for the rest of you here is what you need to know about the minor pentatonic guitar scale (this one is in the key of Eminor).
Here is the minor pentatonic guitar scale in the Key of E broken down for you to see each of the five unique patterns within the scale. Whole steps and Half steps are shown by "w" and "h" respectively.
E Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale Step Pattern
The numbers of the degrees in the scale referenced back to the major scale would be:
1, b3 (flatted 3rd), 4, 5, b7 . We chose E but could have easily used and chromatic key such as A for our scale. But the E minor scale uses the open fret notes to get it going and a good visual image to learn. Its good to start learning the numbers of the degrees in scales because you will find a lot of referencing back to the major scale of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
How To Read The Scale Diagrams
A simple way to learn guitar notes is to break the scale down into manageable pieces. The dots represent the note locations in the scale. Red signifies the octaves or root note. Grey represents the fifth note and black represents the remaining notes in the scale.
The octave and fifth notes are important because of their stability and their use for resolution and turn around points. Each scale diagram focusses on the starting note of the scale pattern and moves down the low E string one note at a time showing you each of the sequential positional patterns.
Position 1
This is the first position of the E minor pentatonic scale. The dots above the string letters indicate to play the open strings - unfretted. Notice the two fret gap between the E and the G (second note in the scale) at the third fret?
Position 2
This is the second position of the minor pentatonic guitar scale. The second note is the G at the third fret. But just to let you know - this is also the first position of the major pentatonic guitar scale. So simple. To switch the feel of the scale from minor to major all you do is start the pentatonic at the second postion of the minor scale and it becomes the major scale. Remember this.
Position 3
The third note is the A located at the fifth fret. Pretty simple visual pattern to remember also - except for the two odd looking note positions. But that is what will make this easy to remember.
Position 4
The fourth note of the minor pentatonic guitar scale is the B at the sixth fret. It is also the dominant and a great turn around point for tension in any melody or solo. But note the symmetry of this scale interval pattern - except that one note at the eight fret that stands out. Remember this too.
Position 5
The fifth note at the tenth fret sets you up really nicely for the finish and back to the beginning of the entire pentatonic pattern at the twelfth fret. You probably have noticed that the minor pentatonic guitar scale has some very simple and easily memorable visual patterns.
This is such an important scale to learn - especially if you are beginning your journey in learning guitar and scales for lead solo work that I had to put this page up. For those of you who have already started using the EasyLead Guitar Note Map, you already are way ahead on this topic and this scale.
But for the rest of you here is what you need to know about the minor pentatonic guitar scale (this one is in the key of Eminor).
Here is the minor pentatonic guitar scale in the Key of E broken down for you to see each of the five unique patterns within the scale. Whole steps and Half steps are shown by "w" and "h" respectively.
E Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale Step Pattern
The numbers of the degrees in the scale referenced back to the major scale would be:
1, b3 (flatted 3rd), 4, 5, b7 . We chose E but could have easily used and chromatic key such as A for our scale. But the E minor scale uses the open fret notes to get it going and a good visual image to learn. Its good to start learning the numbers of the degrees in scales because you will find a lot of referencing back to the major scale of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
How To Read The Scale Diagrams
A simple way to learn guitar notes is to break the scale down into manageable pieces. The dots represent the note locations in the scale. Red signifies the octaves or root note. Grey represents the fifth note and black represents the remaining notes in the scale.
The octave and fifth notes are important because of their stability and their use for resolution and turn around points. Each scale diagram focusses on the starting note of the scale pattern and moves down the low E string one note at a time showing you each of the sequential positional patterns.
Position 1
This is the first position of the E minor pentatonic scale. The dots above the string letters indicate to play the open strings - unfretted. Notice the two fret gap between the E and the G (second note in the scale) at the third fret?
Position 2
This is the second position of the minor pentatonic guitar scale. The second note is the G at the third fret. But just to let you know - this is also the first position of the major pentatonic guitar scale. So simple. To switch the feel of the scale from minor to major all you do is start the pentatonic at the second postion of the minor scale and it becomes the major scale. Remember this.
Position 3
The third note is the A located at the fifth fret. Pretty simple visual pattern to remember also - except for the two odd looking note positions. But that is what will make this easy to remember.
Position 4
The fourth note of the minor pentatonic guitar scale is the B at the sixth fret. It is also the dominant and a great turn around point for tension in any melody or solo. But note the symmetry of this scale interval pattern - except that one note at the eight fret that stands out. Remember this too.
Position 5
The fifth note at the tenth fret sets you up really nicely for the finish and back to the beginning of the entire pentatonic pattern at the twelfth fret. You probably have noticed that the minor pentatonic guitar scale has some very simple and easily memorable visual patterns.
So there you have it. The Em Pentatonic Scale. Practice this scale any way you can and it will be extremely useful for you. Or try out the Easylead Guitar Note Map with Jam Tracks and Videos for instant fun!
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