Need a little boost here. The pentatonic boxes/patterns remain the same up the neck correct? Its only the resolving notes that change? Would I be correct in saying the root or resolving notes in pattern 2 of the G minor pentatonic scale would be on the 8th fret B string and 10th fret of A string?
For some reason it just sounds off when I hit the other notes that aren’t G (when playing pattern 2 of g minor pentatonic scale). The musicality just isn’t there like it is when I jam in aminor using patt 2.
Could it be that there are only certain patterns that work when playing G? I’m all turned around haha!
Who knows man. Been using a Troy Nelson “master pentatonic in 14 days” as a supplement to Justins Guitar. I like having paper/book in front of me to reference.
In his book, the diagrams for the shapes of the minor and major pentatonic look identical. The same boxes but obviously with the notes on different strings. The book only focuses on A and C so maybe there’s some kind of exception there like there is all over music theory.
The root notes you’ve specified here are the C minor pentatonic shaped CAGED framework. ie Pattern 3 (EDCAG)
Pattern 2 for G minor has its root notes on the D string, 5th fret, and B string 8th fret. ie the D minor shaped CAGED framework.
If you’re new to pentatonics, learn the actual scale via Pattern 1 ( E hape) only, and learn it well.
ie spend a few weeks, at least on it. Start with the minor pentatonic first.
Then start moving to other areas/patterns/shapes, whatever you choose to call them.
Zero benefit trying to learn the 5 shapes at the beginning. In fact, it’ll only confuse you, and slow you down.
There are five patterns, all different. Only when the span of a full octave has been covered will the same pattern return.
No. That would be a C-shape pattern, or pattern 3. Here are all five patterns of minor pentatonic scales - no given key, no fret numbers.
With a title (and presumably a fast track aim) no wonder you’re confused. Nobody can ‘master’ even one pattern of one scale in one key in 14 days. And it seems the book is pushing multiple patterns in multiple keys.
The diagrams are obviously not clear enough in indicating root notes and intervals, the writing and examples not clear enough in describing their differences.
No - no exception. A, C, F#, Eb … the key is irrelevant to the actuality of the learning.
Crucial question …
Can you comfortably use one minor pentatonic pattern to make music?
If no, then stay there and keep it simple.
Yes. I can play all of those patterns you listed above. Shape/Pattern 1 was the first scale I ever learned 20 years ago. I have the geometric shapes memorized and am fairly confident when it comes to A. I don’t think it would be a huge overstep to try and dip my toe into other keys lol. If someone suggested jamming in Am I would know exactly where to go in all shapes.
As an example, If someone suggested G, all I would know to do is play in pattern 1 starting on the G note (Low E on 3rd fret). My crucial question is how would the other patterns/shapes apply in G? Do all of the shapes move back a fret like pattern 1 does from A to G? I might just need to knock out some of these questions via an in-person lesson.
I appreciate Justin’s free content but his vague diagrams without keys, notes, explanations, or fret numbers can be trying at times.
If you know all the patterns in A you know all the patterns in every key. Pick a root note, in your case G move every pattern down one full tone. Maybe getting to know the notes on the neck is what you need tk learn.
Those vague diagrams cover every key, they are moveable so adding note names, explainations or key is irrelevant because the patterns stay the same only the root(starting notes) change.
A large part of learning to play guitar is learning about how YOU LIKE to go about learning. Memorizing the boxes and their relative positions doesn’t necessarily work for everyone. It never worked for me. I would suggest that you take a different track than you are on currently.
I suggest:
Learn to play music by exploring the fret board and by playing musical stuff.
Put on a Gmin drone backing track or Gmin chord drone or groove in a looper.
Work on traversing the fret board linking the pentatonic boxes in a musical way. In relality you really only need to learn pattern #1 and then learn how to link in the other workable patterns. Consider taking a ride on the pentatonic highway (follow the links): 3 notes per string major scale - #3 by CT
Let the actual scale - in this case the pentatinic- be the focus of your learning ; not the patterns, or the shapes; they are important, but incidental.
Nail everything about the scale;; the sound, the intervals, the root notes, the note relationship etc,.
You’ll find over time that the patterns start to come together much more readily, without the need for external diagrams.
