← Rock roadmap
beginner
Pentatonic Scale
Five-position minor pentatonic across the neck.
Objective
Play all five CAGED positions of the minor pentatonic scale and connect them across the neck in the key of A.
Concepts
- ▸The minor pentatonic scale has 5 notes: root, b3, 4, 5, b7. In A: A–C–D–E–G.
- ▸It fits over minor chords, dominant 7 chords, and most rock/blues progressions.
- ▸The five CAGED positions cover the entire neck. Most players start with Position 1 (box pattern).
- ▸Position 1 (A minor pentatonic): root on string 6 fret 5.
- ▸The pentatonic is "wrong note proof" — every note sounds good over an A5 or Am chord.
- ▸Connecting positions: the top of one box overlaps with the bottom of the next.
Diagram / Notation
A Minor Pentatonic — Position 1 (box pattern) e --5--8-- B --5--8-- G --5--7-- D --5--7-- A --5--7-- E --5--8-- (5th fret = A) Position 2 (starts at fret 7): e --8--10- B --8--10- G --7--9-- D --7--9-- A --7--10- E --8--10-
Exercises
1.Position 1 ascending/descending
- 1.Play Position 1 from low E string to high e, then back down.
- 2.Use strict alternate picking: down-up-down-up on every note.
- 3.60 BPM with metronome, one note per beat.
- 4.Increase to 120 BPM over one week.
2.Positions 1 and 2 connection
- 1.Play Position 1 ascending. When you reach the top, continue into Position 2 without stopping.
- 2.Come back down Position 2 into Position 1.
- 3.The overlap zone is frets 7–8 on strings 1 and 2 — those notes belong to both positions.
3.Simple 4-bar rock lick
- 1.Within Position 1, play: E string fret 5, 8 → A string 5, 7 → D string 5, 7.
- 2.Add a bend on D string fret 7 (whole step up).
- 3.End on A string fret 5 (the root A).
- 4.This is a complete musical phrase — repeat it over an Am or A5 vamp.
Tips
- 💡Learn the scale by its sound first, not just its shape. Sing every note as you play it.
- 💡Avoid "running the box" — a scale exercise is not a solo. Focus on making musical phrases.
- 💡The root notes (A) are your home base. Always know where they are in each position.
- 💡Listen to Angus Young (AC/DC), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) — both build most solos from pentatonic.