The video that accompanies this short piece is a guitar lesson that teaches you all five positions of the minor pentatonic scale. As already discussed in the introductory minor pentatonic lesson (https://youtu.be/xTUizbYuuqs), this scale is one of the most important and most (ab)used in rock, blues, and metal. It’s also much used in other genres, too, and is invariably the first scale most aspiring lead guitarists learn.
In the introductory video lesson just mentioned, we zoned in on the A minor pentatonic scale to learn the first-position pattern, which is shown in the tab below.
A Minor Pentatonic Scale, 1st Position
If you aren’t familiar with the above scale pattern yet, then please hit the above video link, learn the sucker, and then come back. Said video will also teach you why this scale is called “pentatonic” and a few other useful things, too — I promise!
As you already hopefully know, the five notes in the A minor pentatonic scale are A, C, D, E, and G. The reason the above pattern is called the “first-position” one is because it starts on the first note of the scale — namely, A at the fifth fret of the low E string.
In the accompanying video lesson, we learn the other four patterns of the A minor pentatonic scale — the second, third, fourth and fifth positions. As you may have already surmised, the second-position pattern will start on the second note of the scale (C); the third-position pattern, on the third note of the scale (D); and so on.
So, without further ado, here are tabs and suggested fingerings for the remaining four positions of this fine scale.
A Minor Pentatonic Scale, 2nd–5th Positions
Using the 1st-position A Minor Pentatonic Scale for Upper Octaves
And, as also promised, here’s the 1st-position pattern an octave higher with two suggested fingerings for you to try.
Fretboard Diagrams of All Five Positions
Here, too, for your edification (my big word of the day!) are fretboard diagrams for all five positions — with those all-important root notes marked and suggested fingerings, too.
The Five Positions of the A Minor Pentatonic Scale – in Fretboard-diagram Form
First Position
Second Position
Third Position
Fourth Position
Fifth Position
Solo Tabs and Playback Tracks
Last, but certainly not least, here’s the tab for the solo I played for both the intro and outro of the video. As you’ll see from the markings above the tab lines, I start in the fifth position (an octave lower) and then work my way through the first to the fifth positions before ending up at the first-position pattern an octave higher.
And, to make this solo a little more fun to learn, here’s a link to the backing track I used when playing it in the video, too:
To close, here are downloads of two A minor backing tracks you can jam along to while getting accustomed to your new best friends, the second, third, fourth, and fifth A minor pentatonic positions. As mentioned repeatedly in the video, please don’t forget to revolve around and resolve to those all-important root notes in each and every position, as well.
Master All Five Positions to Expand Your Lead Voicings!
It’s well worth mastering all five positions, as knowing them will both expand and improve your lead playing to no end. This knowledge will also help you write riffs, too. Hopefully, the Tetris analogy in the video will help you literally piece them all together! Take your time, have fun, and remember to learn where all those pesky but pivotal root notes are in all five positions, too!
See you soon for some more lessons, riffs, and solos. Until then, stay safe . . .