Understanding pentatonic scale guitar is a big step forward for any guitarist. Once you get this under your fingers, you’ll start seeing the fretboard differently — and your playing will reflect that.
I’ve put together this lesson to break it down in a way that’s practical and easy to follow. Let’s get into it.
The Scale Pattern
This pentatonic scale guitar lesson is one you’ll want to come back to. Colin breaks down the scale pattern position by position, showing you where each note falls on the fretboard. The goal isn’t just memorization — it’s about getting comfortable enough that your fingers find the right spots without thinking about it. That takes repetition, but the payoff is worth it.
The real value of learning this scale isn’t just knowing the notes — it’s understanding how they connect to actual music. Once you can play it without looking, try improvising over a backing track. You’ll be surprised how musical it sounds even with simple note choices.
Tips for Pentatonic Scale Guitar
- Practice the pattern ascending and descending until it’s second nature
- Use alternate picking to build speed and consistency
- Try playing the scale over a backing track to hear how it sounds in context
- Once you’re comfortable, experiment with skipping strings for different sounds
Keep At It
Scales might not be the most exciting topic, but they’re incredibly valuable once you see how they connect to real music. Spend a few minutes on them each day and you’ll notice the difference in your playing within a couple weeks.
thanks for the lesson colin. how about more in different minor keys. mike
Hey Mike, to get the other keys, simply slide the scale pattern to a different root note. IE instead of starting it on the 5th fret for A minor, start it on the 7th fret, and you’ll get Bm.
Hey Colin.
I’ve seen some of your videos and I’m just wondering if we could have a closer view to your fingers
Colin,
I’m practicing on the minor pentatonic with some slow backing tracks, but for some reason I always finish with my fourth finger rather than the second one
Yo Alejandro… in the standard pentatonic minor pattern, you SHOULD be finishing with your fourth finger… so you’re doing it right! 🙂
i find it difficult to learn because the videos skips.
please help me i really want to learn playing guitar
I could not move my fingers as quick as I want, how to deal with it?
Just start as slowly as you need to… and practice at that speed until you find yourself improving. Rome wasn’t built in a day 🙂
I need to know what your rip is on that…what finger anoter words…on what fret
Colin, you’re right on the money with what you are showing us – thank you!! Can you come up with a small DVD course and hard copy Booklet of awesome chord progressions (for acoustic too)? It’s a bitch playing up on the short hairs with an acoustic. It’s fine for electric, but not for us acoustic gals & guys. Thanks Colin – you rock!
Ann J.
Ohio
im learning the minor pentatonic scale in all five positions. Would that be considered the third position then? I’m a bit confused still about some aspects of the minor pentatonic. It’s been challenging try to memorize these positions, however, I’ll be there soon. The major scales will be even harder I imagine.
Hi Linda, I personally would not even bother learning the major pentatonic scales for now, there’s really not much need for them. Just use the relative minor scale and you’ll be fine. It’s better to put your efforts into learning to make music with one or two patterns first, and then later on begin adding all the different variations…