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Ruthless Minor Pentatonic Scales Over 3 Octaves

By Klaus Crow 8 Comments

Photo by Bigstock photo
The standard minor pentatonic scale is normally played over 2 octaves and stays within one position.

If you have been playing and improvising with the minor pentatonic scale for some time it’s likely that you want to break out of that one position and expand your reach on the fretboard.

You can use the minor pentatonic scale over 3 octaves for this purpose. It wil give you much more freedom and flexibility.

When you play “the pentatonic scale over 3 octaves” it means you actually play 3 pentatonic scales, one after another. Each pentatonic scale consisting of 5 notes per octave.

In the first example (the E minor pentatonic) you start on the E note, which is your root note (open low E-string). You play the first 5 notes of the scale and then arrive on the 6th note to land on the octave (7th fret A-string), which of course is also an E note. Then you play the next pentatonic scale starting from that 6th note, play the 5 notes of the pentatonic scale and arrive on the 11th note (9th fret G-string) to land on your second octave. Continue on the 11th note, play 5 notes up the scale and arrive on the 16th note for your 3rd octave.

So you can play each example as one long hell of a scale across the entire neck or treat them as 3 separate scales.

The numbers next to the notes on the staff above the tablature indicate the finger placement of your left hand (assuming you play right-handed). 1 = index finger, 2 = middle finger, 3 = ring finger, 4 = pinky.

The first example, the “E minor pentatonic over 3 octaves” is commonly used to take the standard pentatonic scale to the next step. It’s also the most comfortable and easiest one to play. The other two (A minor and G minor) are a little bit more challenging but definitely worth the effort. Practice pays off!

Tip: Each scale can be played in different keys by moving the entire scale up or down the fretboard. If you want to move “the E minor pentatonic” up a half step to the key of F you need to move up the entire scale 1 fret higher. So the first 4 notes on the 6th string: “0 3 5 7” now become “1 4 6 8”. Moving every note of that scale up a half step (1 fret) and you’re playing F minor pentatonic. If you move up the scale a whole step (2 frets) you’re playing F# minor pentatonic and so on.

Assignments:
– Play each 3 octave scale ascending and descending.
– Memorize how to play each 3 octave scale.
– Play the scales with a metronome. Start slow and gradually build up speed.
– Play the scales in different keys.
– Play the 3 smaller pentatonic scales that make up the big “3 octave scale” separately, from root to octave, ascending and descending.

Have a blast!Continue Reading

Top 150 Greatest Guitar Players of All Time

By Klaus Crow 168 Comments

jimi_hendrixI grew up listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan. My oldest brother was a big fan of Stevie and he introduced me to the wonderful world of blues and rock. He did not play guitar himself but he loved listening to guitar players all the time.

I started playing guitar at the age of 9, but it took another 6 years before I started listening and learning the songs of Joe Satriani, John Frusciante, Scott Henderson, Jimi Hendrix, Dimebag Darrel, Marty Friedman, Slash and Frank Gambale to name a few.

Much later I began listening to pretty much the rest of the list presented below. Listening to all these guitar players enriched my playing and my life as a musician and music lover. I hope it does the same for you.

This is a list of the most greatest, influential and famous guitar players of all time in no particular order. The list is not complete, because it can never be.

It is a wonderful guide to learn from, listen to and read about. The musicians and their music will inspire and motivate you. If you want to become a great guitar player then these are your teachers.

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I present to you: The gurus, revolutionaries and guitar heros.

Enjoy!

001. Jimi Hendrix (Blues/Rock) – Tabs

002. Robert Johnson (Blues) – Tabs

003. Albert King (Blues) – Tabs

004. B.B. King (Blues)Continue Reading

3 Cool Blues Licks To Spice Up Your Improvisation

By Klaus Crow 11 Comments

Today I will teach you three cool blues licks to spice up your improvisation skills. There are a lot of blues licks out there that sound a little ordinary so here are some cool blues ingredients to make your improvisation sound more alive.

The licks are all derived from the A minor pentatonic scale, so you can play the licks over an A blues chord progression or a song in Am. I wrote down the tabs (tablature) below. Check out the video to hear what they sound like and how to position your fingers.

Enjoy!

 

 
LICK #1: Continue Reading

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