Five Forms of the Pentatonic Scale

Lesson 2/39 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Blues Lead Guitar

Five Forms of the Pentatonic Scale

Altogether there are five forms of the minor pentatonic scale. When linked together they cover the whole fretboard. Each form is named by the chord shape it most closely resembles. You have already learned the E form of the scale. The other four forms are shown in the following pages in the key of C along with the matching chord shape for each one. Practice each form until you know it from memory and then analyze them all in terms of where the scale degrees fall within each fingering. It is especially important to memorize the positions of the root notes in each form.

The D Form (Pattern Two)

D Form

Here is a lick which makes use of the D form of the C minor pentatonic scale. Analyze it as shown in lesson 1 and try making up some of your own licks using the D form.

The C Form (Pattern Three)

C Form

This lick is played within the C form of the C minor pentatonic scale. As before, analyze it and then try making up some of your own licks from the C form.

The A Form (Pattern Four)

A Form

This lick is played within the A form of the C minor pentatonic scale, at the 3rd fret. It is also possible to play it up an octave at the 15th fret.

The G Form (Pattern Five

G Form

This Solo begins in the G form of the C minor pentatonic scale and also makes use of the other four forms of the scale.

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Class Sessions

1- Arpeggios 2- New Techniques - The Trill 3- The Minor Pentatonic Scale 4- The Blues Scale 5- INTRODUCTION 6- Sixteenth Note Rhythms 7- Understanding Rhythms 8- The Major Pentatonic Scale 9- More on Eighth Note Rhythms 10- The Triplet 11- Five Forms of the Pentatonic Scale 12- Syncopation 13- Minor Arpeggios 14- Enharmonic Notes 15- Swing Rhythms 16- Combining Scales 17- Set Rhythms 18- Common Sixteenth Note Figures 19- Identifying Scale Patterns 20- Tremolo 21- Fretboard Diagrams 22- The Shuffle Rhythm 23- Dominant Seventh Arpeggios 24- The Rake 25- Using Ties 26- Scale Degrees 27- Left-Hand Fingers 28- Twelve Note Positions for Triplets 29- Combining Scales and Arpeggios 30- Analyzing What You Play 31- Tablature 32- Staccato 33- Set Rhythms Using Triplet Figures 34- Twelve Eight Time 35- Tablature Symbols 36- Thirty Second Notes 37- Playing With Pick and Fingers 38- Jam Along Progressions 39- Listening

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Five Forms of the Pentatonic Scale