How to Learn Guitar Music Theory III

In this part of the music theory series we will go over the major and minor pentatonic scale. We will learn the scale patterns with root notes. These scale patterns can be played any where on the fret board and the root or tonic note will be the key that the scale is in.

The above fret board diagram shows all the notes of the of the E minor pentatonic as they are arranged on the fret board. 5 notes make up a pentatonic scale. Depending on where the root note is, this scale can be comprised of sharps, flats and naturals. As you can see the E major pentatonic is made entirely of natural notes. If we were to move a half step up, we would include flats and sharps in the scale. Keep this in mind as you can move scales anywhere on the fret board. The key is to pay attention to where the root or tonic note is in the scale that you are using. This will keep you tune with the song or melody you are playing.

The above diagram can be a little over whelming when trying to apply this to practical use. So, for convenience and ease of memorization we beak it up into patterns, or positions. Each position can be played anywhere on the fret board and they all interconnect to form the big pattern you see above. For each position we number 1-5 and the first will start closest to the open strings. At some point when playing these positions on the fretboard in different keys you will notice that you will be able to start pattern 5 in the open position this starts to happen when position 1 starts at G natural. As we continue to move position 1 up the fret board we will have more space where pattern 5 will be able to start on the open strings then 4, 3 and 2. This will be confusing at first but as you work with the patterns it will begin to make sense. Now lets begin with pattern 1.

5 notes make up the major and minor pentatonic scale. The above diagram is pattern 1. This example is of E. In E pattern 1 is comprised of E,G,A,B,D, then back to E. With the root notes at the open Bass E, 2nd fret of the D string, and the open treble E. If we move the pattern up a Half step(1 fret). The root note will start on F. If we move a whole step from F, the root note starts on G. Play position 1 up and down the fret board, pay attention to where the root note is in the pattern. Once this is memorized move on to position 2.

The above pattern is position 2, it has the same notes as pattern 1 just arranged differently as the fall on the fretboard. When memorizing the patterns pay attention to where the root note is within each pattern. This will help you later on while using this scale. Knowing the root is how you move the scale to the correct key or tone. As we did with pattern 1 move pattern 2 up and down the fretboard, until you are comfortable and can play it from memory. After that play 1 and 2 together again moving up and down the fretboard. You will continue this for the rest of the patterns. I suggest playing each pattern up and down the fretboard so that you get comfortable with playing these anywhere. Patterns 3,4,and 5 are below.

Pattern 3 above.

Pattern 4 above.

You made it to pattern 5. Once this has been memorized you can move this to any position on the fretboard. Now you start stringing them together. In the example below, we start with pattern 5 then move up to pattern 1 and end on pattern 2.

In this example pattern 5 is utilizing open strings and notes spanning to the 3rd fret. Pattern 1 starts on the 3rd fret and spans to the 6th fret. Pattern 2 starts on the 5th fret and spans to the 8th fret. If we wanted to continue after pattern 2 we move into pattern 3 and 4 then start again at 5 and so on until we run out of room on the fretboard. All these patterns tie into each other in numerical order. If you start at pattern 3 you can move up to pattern 4 or I can move down to pattern 2,(depending on where you start on the fretboard). Take note that moving up the fretboard is considered going from open string to the 12th fret and beyond, moving down the fret board is the opposite. All notes repeat at the 12th fret.

The example above shows how you would be able to move from pattern 4 if you started on the 5th fret. Moving down the fretboard I have room for pattern 3 and if you moved down further you would be able to utilize pattern 2 with open strings. Moving up the fretboard from pattern 4 you go into pattern 5. Then this will continue to pattern 1 then 2 and on and on.

To keep this as simple as possible the patterns are in numerical order. On the guitar fretboard, going up the fret board from open string to the 12th fret and beyond we use the patterns in order 1,2,3,4,5. If we start with a different pattern, for example, we would go 4,5,1,2,3.

Moving from the 12th fret to the open strings is moving down the fretboard. We just count backwards. 5,4,3,2,1, or if we start in a different position on the fretboard, 3,2,1,5,4.

The patterns all tie in together in numerical sequence, and always repeat after 5. For example you will not be able to tie 1 into pattern 3 or 4. Pattern 1 will only be able to be utilized as, 1,2,3, or 5,1,2 or 4,5,1.

So how does this relate to Major pentatonic. Well, to keep it as simple as possible the patterns are exactly the same. We just need to know where the root notes are in each pattern. Take a look at the example below. It is the Major pentatonic in G. It the exact same pattern as the E Minor pentatonic scale. So from this we get that the relative Minor of G Major is E minor and that the relative major of E minor is G Major.

We can use these scale patterns to help us determine the key that we are playing. How is this done? Take pattern 1 and play it over a simple chord progression. Play it over a progression that you know the key. Then move the pattern by half steps or whole steps up and down the fret board. You'll notice that when your out of key the notes get sour, when things start sounding good your in the right key. Now try playing it over a song this, is a way of determining the key of a song. When the scale sounds good you know your close and it becomes easier identify the chords from there and that is how you start learning to play by ear.

Use the patterns as a warm up, and just play them. In each pattern learn the root note locations. Don't get stuck playing in one spot get comfortable moving the patterns and moving from one to the other in sequence. Now grab your guitar and play.

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