Help with the pentatonic!

[RGOU812]

I play most of my lead on the major and minor pentatonic scales using the root note on the low e string as the 'line' between both scales so when i'm playing stuff ad lib it's a good start but it tends to be repetative - do any of you jemsite experts know some little deviations inside these scales to add a little life into them?

Cheers

[Jaden]

do you know all the positions of the pentatonic scale ?

when im using pentatonic I usually mix in a little natural minor and chromatic too, I also used the blues note a fair bit depending on what im playing of course.
listen to paul gilberts stuff, he makes great use of pentatonics a lot.

[Meedlyx10]

-listen to eric johnson

[quicknthedead]

Originally Posted by RGOU812

I play most of my lead on the major and minor pentatonic scales using the root note on the low e string as the 'line' between both scales so when i'm playing stuff ad lib it's a good start but it tends to be repetative - do any of you jemsite experts know some little deviations inside these scales to add a little life into them?

Cheers

Hi RGOU812,

Let me ask you a question first.

When you play, do you try to see the 5 "boxes" of the pentatonic scale?

The reason I ask is that is what I always do. I try to "play around" in those boxes just to have fun...kinda like when I was a kid in our old sandbox, where I would play around for hours and hours just having fun.

In the beginning it was more like practicing at "playing", but then after a long time of doing this, it turned more into playing at "practicing".

So, I am serious when I ask the question: Do you work out in those boxes a lot, both as practice and as play?

quick

[RGOU812]

I don't think i do - i learned everything i know on the guitar by ear so i probably play 'the five boxes' without knowing what they actually are, i the thing is i've been playing for years and don't know names of actual scales just remember licks or runs just from memory not knowing what they actually are, i just know they'll fit into what backing of track i'm jamming or playing along with - i do add a few extra notes into the pentatonic -if possible could you let me know what the five boxes are or let me know a site i can find them and that may help me open my horizons when playing around on the fretboard.

[Vim Fuego]

Have a look at this:
http://www.thedigitalguitar.com/?p=3
It explains the boxes.
Jim

[RGrocker]

I have been trying to learn the boxes and I was wondeing how do you go about practicing them? Do you go first box up and down...then second upand down..then third...etc etc etc... Or do you do first box up second box down third up forth down...etc etc etc. I have the boxes finger positions memorized..just not the frets they are played on.

[RGOU812]

Spot on for the web site! i'm going to learn these. i know thw first and last boxes very well thats the two i pivot the two blues scales i normally use, cheers!

[MattyCakes]

the boxes are by far the worst way to learn guitar. learn the notes, thatll break you out of playing in shapes

[gu1tar]

Deviations: here are the pentatonic boxes with the "blue" (flat 5) notes added for blues music. Learn all 5 standard patterns and the added blue notes and you'll add a lot to your playing.

http://www.cyberfret.com/scales/blues/page3.php

[elcid]

Originally Posted by RGrocker

I have been trying to learn the boxes and I was wondeing how do you go about practicing them? Do you go first box up and down...then second upand down..then third...etc etc etc... Or do you do first box up second box down third up forth down...etc etc etc. I have the boxes finger positions memorized..just not the frets they are played on.

Yes. Play them in every way possible. Up one, down two etc, down one up two, etc, diagonally, up one down three, up two down four, connect them every way you can come up with.

[just42dave]

learn the intervals that way you will always no where you are

[texshred777]

I do agree that learning the correct intervals is the best way to know and play scales, but I think that first learning scales in all 5 positions is a good way to get started. If you already know the five positions, it's a lot easier to digest than memorizing what notes go in which scale, and where on the fretboard are those notes. Trying to remember too much at once is a good way to get frustrated and not get anywhere. I do agree that players shouldn't be anchored in a box pattern.

I'd say if you are having trouble with scales and 'fretboard geometry', then I'd recommend getting the 'guitar fretboard workbook' from MI press. It gives you 'homework' really so you can easily judge for yourself how you are progressing. Every player I know who's actually read and completed the book learned SOOO much. Another good one I've seen, heard of is 'advanced modern rock guitar improvisation', which is written by Jon Finn(guitar instructor at berklee college of music). So either way you should learn quite a bit.