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Guitar Tutorial

Pentatonic Scales

Instructor: Sean Conklin
Topic: Scales
Style: Any Style
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  • Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Scales Style: Any Style

    Excerpt: Welcome to the Pentatonic Scale Tutorial! The pentatonic scale is an extremely important scale and should be learned and respected by every guitarist. The pentatonic is a foundational scale, as many other scales are drawn and created from it. The term "pentatonic" has two parts to it. The "pent" means "five". And the "tonic" means "tone". So from that, we ...

    Media Length: 2:12

  • Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Scales Style: Any Style

    Excerpt: With each scale position, we are going to play the pattern with eighth notes, then triplets, then sixteenth notes. The fingering you use is optional. Since these scales are 2-notes-per-string, I have a personal preference of just using two fingers: my index finger and my ring finger. However, I'd encourage you to use all four of your fingers if you can. Her...

    Media Length: 1:21

  • Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Scales Style: Any Style

    Excerpt: Now, let's examine the second position. Position 2 is the position that primarily represents the Major key. So we can apply the same process as we did with Position 1 when we found the minor key on the fretboard. For an example, let's say I wanted you to play the pentatonic scale in the key of C Major. You could then find the C root note on the Low E strin...

    Media Length: 1:06

  • Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Scales Style: Any Style

    Excerpt: Out of all five positions, the 3rd position is the only one that spans across 5 frets, rather than 4. Use whatever fingering you find most comfortable and effective. Then when you have it down, head on over to learn Position 4. Position 3

    Media Length: 0:32

  • Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Scales Style: Any Style

    Excerpt: The 4th position is my personal favorite. I'm not exactly sure why, but I think it's just because I enjoy the playing opportunities that the patterns provide. Once you have it down, head on over to the next lesson where we'll learn our last position. Position 4

    Media Length: 0:31

  • Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Beginner Topic: Scales Style: Any Style

    Excerpt: Alright, here is our last position. The patterns in this one are pretty simple as there aren't any drastic shape changes. Now that you have the 5 positions down, let's work on blending them together in the next lesson. Position 5

    Media Length: 0:31

  • Instructor: Sean Conklin Level: Intermediate Topic: Scales Style: Any Style

    Excerpt: Great job! If you've made it this far, that means you know the 5 positions of the pentatonic scale. Now that you know the positions individually, it's time to start learning how to put them together. If you only practice and memorize the positions by themselves, then that will significantly limit your ability to move freely across the fretboard within the p...

    Media Length: 2:04