Pentatonic Scales

As you may have guessed from the name, these scales are scales that contain five different tones. Learning how to play these scales gives you a good basis for improv as these notes work together very well. The scales consist of five notes. For the A minor pentatonic scale, this would be A, C, D, E, and G. The Am scale is the first diagram below. For the Bb major pentatonic scale, which is the second diagram below, this would be Bb, C, D, F, and G.
Remember all that time we spent looking at bar chords? Well there's some crossover between that and what we're looking at today. The diagrams below show different positions for major and minor pentatonic scales. These are patterns that can be repeated up and down the neck of the guitar. Look at the list below and begin on the correct root note for the scale you want to play. Have some fun with the scales today and play around with them until you create a tune you like.

• No frets barred - E major
• First fret barred - F major
• Second fret barred - F# major
• Third fret barred - G major
• Fourth fret barred - G# major
• Fifth fret barred - A major
• Sixth fret barred - A# major
• Seventh fret barred - B major
• Eighth fret barred - C major
• Ninth fret barred - C# major
• Tenth fret barred - D major
• Eleventh fret barred - D# major
• Twelfth fret barred - E major

Credit to Country Guitar Online for the diagrams used below.