How to Play the Pentatonic Scale

Learning how to play the pentatonic scale is a milestone in many guitarists’ playing lives. This series of 5-notes is typically the first scale shape we learn as we move from basic chords into soloing and improvisation concepts.

If you learn how to play the pentatonic scale you can use it to improvise in almost every contemporary style including blues, rock, jazz, country, soul, funk, and pop. Quick to learn, easy to use (all the notes sound good!) – it’s an essential piece of every aspiring guitarist’s arsenal.

In this video I explain how to fret and practice the scale:

The (minor) pentatonic scale formula is: R b3 4 5 b7

Here’s how to play it on the guitar:

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