The minor pentatonic scale is made up of 5 notes per octave. It is used to improvise over songs/chord progressions that are in minor keys. You will find this scale in 5 locations (patterns) on the guitar fretboard. To fully develop a practical understanding of the information covered, you should experiment improvising with the patterns using the audio track in this article (titled “Back Up Track in A Minor”).  The patterns taught in this article are the same for every other key. All you will need to do is transpose (move the pattern) to the relevant key. For anyone not sure how to do that, we recommend our guitar lessons in the Sutherland Shire.

A Minor Pentatonic Scale Guitar Pattern 1

Below is pattern one of the minor pentatonic scale. The numbers inside the dots indicate the fingers to be used on the frets. The red dots in the pattern refer to the root of the scale. That is, where it gets its name from. Therefore, starting this pattern on the 5th fret / 6th string (note A) means you are playing the A minor pentatonic scale. If you play any of the notes in the A minor pentatonic scale (as shown below) over a chord progression in A minor, you will find that all the notes fit (sound melodic).

Your first step is to memorise the A minor pentatonic above. Once you are comfortable with it, improvise (create) a melody/solo using the notes of the A minor pentatonic scale over the track below (Back Up Track in A Minor). Experiment and do not be afraid to make mistakes. Think melodic: try long notes; try a quick pattern of notes; try low sounding notes and then contrast by changing register to the higher notes of the scale.

Back Up Track in A Minor

A Minor Pentatonic Scale Guitar Pattern 2

Once you are comfortable with pattern 1, learn the A minor pentatonic scale pattern 2 (shown below). This is the same pentatonic scale but it now starts on the 8th fret. The red dots in the pattern refer to the root of the scale (note A). As before, if you play any of the notes in the scale below over a chord progression in A minor, you will find that it sound melodic. Use the track above to improvise using pattern 2.

Once you are comfortable improving using pattern 2, improvise using patterns 1 and 2 together. Below are patterns 1 and 2 on the fretboard. Notice how the two patterns link together by having common notes.

A Minor Pentatonic Scale Guitar Pattern 3

Once you are comfortable with pattern 1 and 2, learn the A minor pentatonic scale pattern 3 shown below.

As before, use the track above to improvise using pattern 3. Once you are comfortable improving with pattern 3, improvise by combining pattern 2 and pattern 3 together. Below are patterns 2 and 3 on the fretboard. Like patterns 1 and 2, these two patterns also link together with common notes.

A Minor Pentatonic Scale Guitar Pattern 4

Below is pattern 4 of the A minor pentatonic scale. Familiarize yourself with it and improvise over the piece “Back Up Track in A Minor”.

Once you are comfortable improving using pattern 4, improvise by combining pattern 3 and pattern 4 together. Below are patterns 3 and 4. Again, these are linked together with common notes.

A Minor Pentatonic Scale Guitar Pattern 5

Finally (below), we have pattern 5 of the A minor pentatonic scale. Learn it and improvise with it over the audio track above.

Once you are comfortable improving using pattern 5, improvise by combining pattern 5 and pattern 1 together. Below are patterns 5 and 1. Again, these are linked together with common notes.

Below is a diagram of the guitar fretboard showing all the patterns you have just learned in A minor. Your final goal will be to improvise moving around all the patterns. Have fun!

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