Pattern Four
Altogether there are five basic fingering patterns which cover the entire fretboard in any key when placed end to end. After pattern one, the next most common improvising pattern is pattern four. It has a similar but not identical shape to pattern one and is illustrated here.
Memorize this pattern and practice it in all positions. You will notice that no root note has been given. Its root note is determined by which of the three types of progressions it is applied to.
Pattern Four - Blues (Key of A)
Pattern four, for Blues progressions, occurs in the same position as the root 5 major bar chord having the same name as the key, e.g., Blues in A - the root 5 A bar chord is located at the 12th fret, and so pattern four is played in this position. If you analyze the notes in pattern four, you will see that you are still playing the notes of the A Blues scale (A, C, D, E, G).
Pattern Four - Minor Key Progressions (Key of A minor)
Pattern four, for minor key progressions, occur at the same position as the root 5 minor bar chord having the same name as the key, e.g.
Progression in A minor - the root 5 Am bar chord is located at the 12th Fret, so pattern four will be played at this position. This is the same position as for a Blues progression in the key of A as shown in the previous diagram.
The following lick uses pattern 4 at the 12th fret. It is played here against an A minor chord. As you can hear, this is a very bluesy lick and would work equally well against any chord from a Blues progression in the key of A.
Pattern Four - Major Key Progressions (Key of A)
Pattern four, for major key progressions, is located three frets lower than the same pattern for Blues, i.e., it occurs at the same position as the root 5 relative minor bar chord, e.g., major chord progression in A - the relative minor chord is F#m, located as a root 5 bar chord at the 9th fret, and so pattern four is located in this position. Once again, you are playing the same notes (A, B, C#, E, F# ) as in pattern one for major key progressions.
The following lick makes use of pattern 4 at the 9th fret against a chord progression in A major. Now that you know how to use pattern four for each of the three types of progressions, practice playing it in all keys.
