Major Pentatonic

It´s structure is R 2 3 5 6. If we are in C, then the C Major Pentatonic Scale will contain the following notes. C D E G A.

Ok, ok but... How do I play it? We are gonna learn it in 5 different positions or boxes, same scale distributed along the fretboard. For each box we are gonna have a "Reference Chord" , a chord that is linked to that specific box.

Box 1

Scale

Reference Chord C

The reference chord goes together with the box, each box covers a different area of the fretboard, it is still the same scale, the same 5 notes, crazy, right?

Box 2

Scale

Reference Chord C

Box 3

Scale

Reference Chord C

Box 4

Scale

Reference Chord C

Box 5

Scale

Reference Chord C

How Do I practice the Major Pentatonic Scale?

• Just learn the boxes, well learned till you don´t need to think where the fingers might go.

• Connect the boxes, box 1 with box 2, box2 with box 3, box 3 with box 4, box 4 with box 5 and box 5 with box 1

• Practice with restrictions, only playing in strings 1, 2 and 3 through the different boxes, etc...

• Apply groups of notes, as... begin playing the first 4 notes ( or 5 , or 6) from the root, repeat but from the 2nd note, repeat but from the 3rd note, etc...

Now we can go one step further, deeper. Do you remember? each box has a reference chord, we are gonna search different chords in the same area of the fretboard

Search this chords Bb (Box 1), Eb (Box 4 ), F (Box3), Ab (Box 2 ) and C (Box 5) Using the shapes that you have been practicing. A s you can see, all the chords are in the same area of the fretboard, as each chord "belonges" to a scale box, you can play those boxes changing together with the chord.

You can play 4 bars of each chord and change the scale with it, for this you can use a metronome or make a backing track or just record yourself with the phone in order to help you keeping the structure.

Now you can play with the Scale , changing with every chord, imagine what you can do when you also play the minor pentatonic, You will be able to play over songs with minor and major chords, but even better, Major pentatonic fits on:

• Major Chords

• Maj7 Chords

• Dominant Chords ( Mixolydian)

Minor Pentatonic fits on:

• Minor Chords

• Minor 7 Chords

Explore the possibilities of improvisation, connecting the boxes of the different chords, focus on playing phrases, focus on the rhythm, on letting space, simple phrases of just a few notes but with sense and practice the changes, from a box of one chord to another box of another chord you want to connect the phrases, try playing phrases that begin on one pentatonic box and end on a different one. The best it´s to practice in groups of 2 chords at first. You could begin playing the boxes of Bb and Eb, try to change the scales on the spot, make phrases that connect one box with the other, etc...