The Minor Pentatonic Scale is the cornerstone of rock, blues, pop, and metal guitar solos. Consisting of 5 essential notes per octave (Root, b3, 4, 5, b7), it sounds consonant over almost any minor or dominant 7th chord progression.
1. Box 1: A Minor Pentatonic Diagram
In the key of A minor (5th fret root), Box 1 spans frets 5 through 8:
e|--------------------------------5--8--|
B|--------------------------5--8--------|
G|--------------------5--7--------------|
D|--------------5--7--------------------|
A|--------5--7--------------------------|
E|--5--8--------------------------------|
2. Expressive Solos: Bends, Vibrato & Slides
- Whole-Step String Bend: On string 3 fret 7 (D note), bend up to pitch E (fret 9 equivalent) using your 3rd finger supported by fingers 1 and 2.
- Vibrato: Slight rhythmic pitching of sustained root notes creates vocal-like expression.
- Pull-Offs: Pick fret 8 of string 2, then snap finger 4 off to sound fret 5 without picking again.
3. Jamming Along with Backing Tracks
Load up any backing track in the GuitarPractice Web Application to practice improvising solo phrases with backing rhythm tracks at your own pace!