Memorizing pentatonic scales in different keys?


Planteater
Registered User
Joined: 03/21/19
Posts: 6
Planteater
Registered User
Joined: 03/21/19
Posts: 6
05/04/2019 11:32 pm

I'm a newb learning pentatonic scales in Am down the fretboard. It's taking surprisingly long with some shapes seeming easy to remember and some won't click, even though they are not complex.

I enjoy learning and practicing this. I picked up the guitar 6 weeks ago.

When I finally get this down I'll be happy. But wait... what about other keys?

This is obviously a newb question: will I have to master this all again for every other key other than Am?

Thanks for the any advance notice you can give me!

Alan

PS I barely know what key means


# 1
ChristopherSchlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 08/09/05
Posts: 8,328
ChristopherSchlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 08/09/05
Posts: 8,328
05/05/2019 3:37 pm
Originally Posted by: Planteater

I'm a newb learning pentatonic scales in Am down the fretboard. It's taking surprisingly long with some shapes seeming easy to remember and some won't click, even though they are not complex.[/quote]

Scale patterns are formed by the interval formula of the scale. One of the great benefit of the guitar is that it's so visual-graphic pattern oriented. Makes it easy to see chord & scale patterns. But to really understand & grasp them it will be beneficial at some point to learn why those shapes; why that pattern.

And that's where a little music theory & the interval formulas of scales & chords will help.

I cover the basics of intervals & how the form scales in a series of tutorials starting here.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=362

I cover how intervals are used to play chords in this tutorial.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=824

Originally Posted by: PlanteaterWhen I finally get this down I'll be happy. But wait... what about other keys?

This is obviously a newb question: will I have to master this all again for every other key other than Am?

It's the same fretboard pattern, just shifted up or down to start on a new root note. So, again, this is a wonderful aspect of the guitar. Just use the A minor pentatonic pattern that starts on A 5th fret E string. Shift it all up 2 frets to start on the B, use the same fretboard pattern and you are playing the B minor pentatonic scale!

Now you will have to learn a different collection of note names makes up each unique scale. But it's the same pattern. This is much the same way that you can use the same chord shapes, just shifted up & down the fretboard.

I cover the basics of the pentatonic scale (major & minor) in this tutorial.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=296

The best way to learn each of those interlocking patterns is to use them. Play them in different positions. Notice that the scale degrees form the interval formula. Use the numbers of the scale degrees to help you associate the pattern with the sound.

That way you are integrating the visual pattern, with the finger motions & most importantly, with the sound they create.

[quote=Planteater]PS I barely know what key means

The key signature is the major (or minor) scale that all (or most) of the notes in the song come from.

If you identify the notes of the melody of a song & all chords being used, you can build a scale and discover the key signature.

Conversely, if you start leaning a song & already know the key signature, that means you already know which scale the song's notes are based on & which chords are likely to be used.

Lisa covers that in her GF2 course. I also cover it in this tutorial that demonstrates the relationship between scales and chords.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=426

And this tutorial that covers how improvisation works in the context of a key signature.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=876

Hope that helps. Please ask more if necessary. Best of success!


Christopher Schlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor

Christopher Schlegel Lesson Directory
# 2

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