Guitar Pentatonic Sequences
Play the A minor pentatonic scale in position 1 (fret 5), then each sequence on the sheet: groups of three, groups of four, thirds and triplet patterns, ascending and descending. Use alternate picking first, then try legato. Work with a metronome and move each sequence to other positions once it is fluent.
Minor pentatonic box 1, up and down
Sequence in groups of 3
Sequence in groups of 4
Goal
Get out of playing the pentatonic scale straight up and down. Sequences train your fingers and ears and give you ready-made phrases for solos.
How to practise
- Learn the plain scale first so you know where every note is.
- Metronome at 60 BPM. Play groups of three as triplets and groups of four as sixteenths.
- Play each sequence ascending and descending.
- Once fluent, move it to other keys: the shape stays the same.
- Improvise over a backing loop in A minor with the progression player and use bits of the sequences.
Self-check
Can you play each sequence from memory at a steady tempo, starting on any string? If you lose the pattern, slow down and say the pattern aloud.
Next steps
See A minor pentatonic and the lesson on pentatonic and blues scales. Explore all five positions in the scale explorer.