Pentatonic guitar scales are commonly the starting point for many guitarists when first learning lead guitar. They are highly useful for soloing and can be applied to many different genres of music, including blues, rock and country.
By definition, all pentatonic guitar scales have five notes. The two common pentatonic scales used in western music are the minor pentatonic and the major pentatonic scales. A similar scale to the minor pentatonic scale is the commonly used blues scale.
The minor pentatonic is commonly used in rock and blues music but is not limited to these groups alone. The minor pentatonic is a staple for many guitar solos, and it is generally a very popular scale used for lead guitar playing. The minor pentatonic scale is composed of: root, flat 3, 4, 5 and flat 7 scale steps.
The minor pentatonic can be changed to the blues scale by simply adding a flat 5. This is also a very popular scale for not just blues but for many other genres of music. When discussing pentatonics for guitar, often the blues scale will be included even though technically it isn't a pentatonic. It contains : root, flat 3, 4, flat 5, 5 and flat 7. This scale is often regarded as the most popular scale for soloing with the guitar.
The major pentatonic is a useful and versatile scale used in music. This is comprised of the root, 2, 3, 5, and 6. This scale is also frequently used in blues guitar and country music but again is not limited to these styles. If we take the two of these scales we find they are commonly used jointly when soloing over a twelve bar blues in conjunction with the flat 5, mentioned previously, from the blues scale.
To learn lead guitar it is crucial to learn the minor pentatonic, blues and the major pentatonic guitar scales. These scales can be used for guitar solos in almost any style of music and contain the common notes that the diatonic modes are formed with. These scales are genearally a good starting point when learning lead guitar.
By definition, all pentatonic guitar scales have five notes. The two common pentatonic scales used in western music are the minor pentatonic and the major pentatonic scales. A similar scale to the minor pentatonic scale is the commonly used blues scale.
The minor pentatonic is commonly used in rock and blues music but is not limited to these groups alone. The minor pentatonic is a staple for many guitar solos, and it is generally a very popular scale used for lead guitar playing. The minor pentatonic scale is composed of: root, flat 3, 4, 5 and flat 7 scale steps.
The minor pentatonic can be changed to the blues scale by simply adding a flat 5. This is also a very popular scale for not just blues but for many other genres of music. When discussing pentatonics for guitar, often the blues scale will be included even though technically it isn't a pentatonic. It contains : root, flat 3, 4, flat 5, 5 and flat 7. This scale is often regarded as the most popular scale for soloing with the guitar.
The major pentatonic is a useful and versatile scale used in music. This is comprised of the root, 2, 3, 5, and 6. This scale is also frequently used in blues guitar and country music but again is not limited to these styles. If we take the two of these scales we find they are commonly used jointly when soloing over a twelve bar blues in conjunction with the flat 5, mentioned previously, from the blues scale.
To learn lead guitar it is crucial to learn the minor pentatonic, blues and the major pentatonic guitar scales. These scales can be used for guitar solos in almost any style of music and contain the common notes that the diatonic modes are formed with. These scales are genearally a good starting point when learning lead guitar.
About the Author:
Clause J Dillon, a musician for over two decades, has compiled an easy to follow and practical guide to guitar scales and soloing, and is available FREE for a limited time by clicking the blue text : Bass Guitar Scales or Pentatonic Guitar Scales
