Tabs

The 5 Pentatonic Shapes

(Intermediate)

A pentatonic

The pentatonic shapes are used in blues, rock, country, metal and mixed up in more styles.
The pentatonic scale is important when you want to learn how to solo and improvise on guitar. You can play the pentatonic scale in 5 different shapes. The shape in the second bar is the most used shape for improvising, but don’t underestimate the coolness of the other shapes. Try not to get stuck in one place. Have fun with all of them!

e:--------------------------3--5-----|----------------------5-8-----------| B:---------------------3-5-----------|------------------5-8---------------| G:----------------2-5----------------|--------------5-7-------------------| D:-----------2-5---------------------|----------5-7-----------------------| A:------3-5--------------------------|------5-7---------------------------| E:--3-5------------------------------|--5-8-------------------------------| e:--------------------------8-10-----|------------------------------10-12-| B:---------------------8-10----------|------------------------10-13-------| G:-----------------7-9---------------|-------------------9-12-------------| D:------------7-10-------------------|-------------10-12------------------| A:-------7-10------------------------|-------10-12------------------------| E:--8-10-----------------------------|-10-12------------------------------| e:-------------------------------12-15-----------------------------------| B:-------------------------13-15-----------------------------------------| G:-------------------12-14-----------------------------------------------| D:-------------12-14-----------------------------------------------------| A:-------12-15-----------------------------------------------------------| E:-12-15-----------------------------------------------------------------|

The 5 Blues Scale Patterns/Shapes

(Intermediate)

The blues scale is a pentatonic scale with an added #4th or b5th note. The blues scale is mainly used in blues, but also in other styles. You can play the blues scale in 5 different shapes. Now you can really hear that bluesy sound. Try it!

e:------------------------------3--5---|----------------------------5-8---| B:-----------------------3-4-5---------|------------------------5-8-------| G:------------------2-5----------------|-----------------5-7-8------------| D:-------------2-5---------------------|-------------5-7------------------| A:------3-5-6--------------------------|------5-6-7-----------------------| E:--3-5--------------------------------|--5-8-----------------------------| e:--------------------------------8-10-11-| B:---------------------------8-10---------| G:--------------------7-8-9---------------| D:---------------7-10---------------------| A:----------7-10--------------------------| E:--8-10-11-------------------------------| e:-------------------------------------10-11-12-| B:-------------------------------10-13----------| G:--------------------------9-12----------------| D:-----------------10-12-13---------------------| A:-----------10-12------------------------------| E:-10-11 -12------------------------------------| e:----------------------------------------11-12-15----------------| B:-------------------------------13-15-16-------------------------| G:-------------------------12-14----------------------------------| D:----------------12-13-14----------------------------------------| A:----------12-15-------------------------------------------------| E:-11-12-15-------------------------------------------------------|