The pentatonic scale

The pentatonic scale has only five notes ("penta" = five). It's the scale behind most rock, blues and metal solos, because it's impossible to play a "wrong" note with it: every note sounds good over the chords of the key.

The minor pentatonic

Take the natural minor scale and remove the 2nd and ♭6th: 1 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭7. In A: A C D E G.

Box 1: the most famous shape in rock

This "box" at the 5th fret is the first scale shape most guitarists learn. Two notes per string, one finger per fret (index on 5, ring or pinky on 7–8).

e|-----------------------5-8-8-5-----------------------|
B|-------------------5-8---------8-5-------------------|
G|---------------5-7-----------------7-5---------------|
D|-----------5-7-------------------------7-5-----------|
A|-------5-7---------------------------------7-5-------|
E|---5-8-----------------------------------------8-5---|

All five boxes

The scale continues up the neck in five connected shapes. Each box shares notes with the next one.

After box 5, box 1 starts again at the 17th fret (and also below, at fret 5 − 12 = open position).

The major pentatonic

The major pentatonic uses the degrees 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 – 6. In C: C D E G A — the same notes as A minor pentatonic! The shapes are identical; only the root changes. That's why box 1 of A minor is also a C major pentatonic shape.

Major pentatonic sounds brighter and happier — think country, southern rock and pop solos.

Your first licks

A lick is a short musical phrase. Here are two classic-style licks in box 1:

e|-------------5-8-5-------------|
B|---------5-8-------8-5---------|
G|-5-7-5-7-----------------7-5---|

e|---------------------------------|
B|-8-5-------------5---------------|
G|-----7-5-----7b9---7-5-----------|
D|---------7-5-------------7-------|

Explore the scale in every key with the fretboard explorer.