I've talked to a lot of people who's main complaint is "I can't get out of playing the same scale pattern." After a little more probing, I discover that they are totally familiar with the root pentatonic minor pattern, (like A pentatonic minor at the 5th fret) but don't know what else to do with it.

Here's a lesson that you will want to make sure that you don't lose! Print it out and stick it in your guitar case.

I have always been an advocate of knowing what to play, anywhere on the neck.

For those of you who are sick and tired of playing A pentatonic minor at the 5th fret or E pentatonic minor at the 12th fret, here is the tab for these scales covering the
entire fretboard.

Learn them, live them, breath them, eat them, sleep them.

Knowing all of these patterns will greatly enhance your playing and open up new tonal possibilities that you may have never heard before.

Does Carlos Santana know these patterns? I'll let YOU answer that one.

Here they are.

Tablature Legend

A C D etc. are the notes.
1 4 1 etc. suggested fingering

A Pentatonic minor Pattern 1 (A C D E G)

 A  C  D  E  G  A  C  D  E  G  A  C
 1  4  1  3  1  3  1  3  1  4  1  4
-------------------------------5--8---------------
-------------------------5--8---------------------
-------------------5--7---------------------------
-------------5--7---------------------------------
-------5--7---------------------------------------
-5--8---------------------------------------------
(also starts at 17th fret)



A Pentatonic minor Pattern 2 (C D E G A)

 C  D   E  G   A  C   D  E  G  A   C  D
 2  4   1  4   1  4   1  3  2  4   2  4
-----------------------------------8--10----------
----------------------------8--10-----------------
----------------------7--9------------------------
---------------7--10------------------------------
--------7--10-------------------------------------
-8--10--------------------------------------------
(also starts at 20th fret)



A Pentatonic minor Pattern 3 (D E G A C)

 D   E   G   A   C   D   E  G   A   C   D   E
 1   3   1   3   1   3   1  4   1   4   1   3
----------------------------------------10--12----
--------------------------------10--13------------
-------------------------9--12--------------------
-----------------10--12---------------------------
---------10--12-----------------------------------
-10--12-------------------------------------------



A Pentatonic minor Pattern 4 (E G A C D)

 E   G   A   C   D   E   G   A   C   D   E   G
 1   4   1   4   1   3   1   3   2   4   1   4
-----------------------------------------12--15---
---------------------------------13--15-----------
-------------------------12--14-------------------
-----------------12--14---------------------------
---------12--15-----------------------------------
-12--15-------------------------------------------



A Pentatonic minor Pattern 5 (G A C D E)

 G   A   C   D   E   G   A   C   D   E   G   A
 2   4   1   4   1   4   1   4   2   4   2   4
-----------------------------------------15--17---
---------------------------------15--17-----------
-------------------------14--17-------------------
-----------------14--17---------------------------
---------15--17-----------------------------------
-15--17-------------------------------------------
(also starts at 3rd fret)

Now, as you get familiar with these patterns and begin creating your own licks, you'll need to change your fingering in some spots. Don't be afraid to experiment.

For example, If you can't bend the 1st string with your pinky, change your fingering and do the bend with your 3rd finger. Play the way YOU feel is the most comfortable.

 

What some happy students are saying about my free guitar lesson email course... "Hey Will, I gotta say, the speed slurring thing is just phenomenal. I got it nailed, adapted it, and now I've transformed into an amazing solo. You are totally amazing, you taught me more than my other guitar teacher has in 6 months! I'm definitely recommending you. Cheers again," Joe "Hey Will, I'm Travis. I just wanted to say thank you for what you do. I'm a self taught musician who is subscribed to your brain share newsletter. When you're really serious about music but can't afford lessons it's not easy to advance. But with people like you and a lot of hard work, I've been able to advance into a decent musician. Now, going to college and learning to make my passion for music into a career is a reality. Thank you!" Travis W. "Will, THANK YOU! I just finished reading your Recipe for Success article and I've only got one thing to say... Finally, after playing off and on for 25 years, mostly off, and asking hundreds of good and sometimes great players how they structure their practice time….finally, an answer and examples that make sense! I can't thank you enough for breaking this down in a way that I can finally understand it. Now, I can start to make progress." Greg L. "Hi Will. I subscribed a couple of months ago for the heck of it. I have been really surprised at the quality and content of the little tips you email regularly to me. Thank you for this. I have gleaned a lot from these emails and I find it hard to believe you could be bothered to help us all for free. More power to you....I appreciate your hard work." Warm regards, Peter A. "Will, all of these emails you are sending me are helping me out and you've got a great system here that I'm sure will help me accomplish what I need to... at least get on the right track. I don't want you to think that I'm a waste of time, and you can keep the emails coming." Sincerely, Mark "Hi Will, I really appreciate your wisdom on giving these guitar tips and especially acting like a mentor to me. Just like you to know that your generosity will also reap you a good harvest of favors for your life as well. Thanks a million!" Raymund "I really appreciate and thank you for the efforts of your Brain Share... honestly I really get a lot from you... I hope, it will continue till I get to the expert mode. I really learn a lot and it really helps me... thank you very much." Daniel S.