How to Play Pentatonic Scales with Alternate Picking

The Pentatonic Scale

The pentatonic scale is a five note scale that is used frequently in rock, blues, and many other styles. Two kinds of pentatonic scales are commonly used: the major and minor pentatonic. There are five scale patterns that allow you to play both scales over the entire neck. Due to the relationship between the major and minor pentatonic scale, the five patterns are the same for both major and minor pentatonic. All of the patterns are arranged so that there are two notes per string.

Exercises

All of the exercises use the A minor pentatonic scale pattern shown below. Use the fingering given for all of the exercises. This pattern should be used for learning each exercise. Once you are comfortable with this pattern, start working with the other four patterns.

Exercise 1

Exercise 1 is a simple ascending and descending pattern that just goes straight through the scale.

Exercise 2

This is a variation of Exercise 1 where the scale is played ascending and descending, but with the notes on each string played backwards.

Exercise 3 - Groups of Two

Exercise 3 is the pentatonic scale played ascending and descending in groups of two. This means that you start on the first degree of the scale and play up one note, which creates a group of two notes. The same pattern is repeated on each successive degree of the scale. Groups of three, four, five, or more notes are possible.

Playing in groups of two produces a pair of repeated notes on the "and" of the beat and the start of the next beat. This may make the left hand part a little awkward since you are picking twice for most notes. Make sure you are holding each note long enough to pick it both times rather than releasing it after playing it once.

Exercise 4 - Groups of Three

Exercise 4 is groups of three in triplets. This exercise may seem difficult at first because you have to keep very close track of where you are in the scale in order to avoid getting lost. Playing in groups of three requires you to play up and down through the notes in the scale, so getting lost is pretty easy. Concentrate on exactly where you are in the scale at all times. Practice slowly and only increase the speed gradually as you can play it perfectly at a given tempo. If necessary, try practicing the exercise in smaller chunks, such as one measure at time.

Pentatonic Sequences

A sequence is a short pattern that is repeated on each degree of the scale. The two sequences below are common patterns. They should be practiced with each scale pattern and in all keys. Both sequences show the ascending and descending version of the patterns. Work on these only after you are comfortable with the basic exercises provided above.

Sequence 1

Sequence 1 is a common pattern of four notes in eighth notes.

Sequence 2

Sequence 2 is a pattern in triplets that ascends and descends through the notes in the scale in groups of six notes. The pattern is repeated on each string.

Practice Tips

These exercises should be practiced two different ways: chromatically with a single scale pattern and on a single root going through all five scale patterns.

Chromatically

Pick a pentatonic scale pattern and play it starting at the first fret, moving up the neck chromatically one fret at a time. The example below shows how this works with the first exercise:

This approach should eventually be used with all five scale patterns. You can go up the neck as far as you want with the exercise.

All Five Patterns Using the Same Root

Pick a root note, such as A, and play the exercise with all five scale patterns up and down the neck. Try this with both the major and minor scales starting on various roots. Here is how this would work with the first exercise using A as the root:

Don't Become Overwhelmed

With all these exercises, five pentatonic patterns, a total of twenty-four major and minor keys, and multiple ways of practicing each exercise, it is easy to be intimidated with all the possibilities for practice material. However, it is never necessary to practice every single exercise in every key with every possible permutation. It is far better to learn each pentatonic pattern with the exercises that are beneficial to you. Practicing the exercises in a single key is enough provided you understand how to move the patterns around the neck to play in other keys. Playing the exercises in every key is primarily an exercise in theory rather than technique. If you have a good grasp of theory, it is a waste of time to practice the exercises in every single key. That time could be better spent practicing other exercises or learning actual music.