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[ A minor pentatonic root note 5th ] [ Am pentatonic C note ] [ Am at D ] [ Am at E ] [ Am at G ] [ Am root 17 ] [ Am open ] [ Am at the G ]

Guitar Lesson 7

Am pentatonic scale root note fret position

In our last guitar lesson, we covered the Am pentatonic scale at the root note fret position. You were asked to memorize the fingering pattern of the root note fret position and learn to play each guitar note smoothly. Once you learn the pentatonic scale in this position, the other positions will be no problem.

The A minor pentatonic root note fret is played and located at the 5th fret position. The note on the Low E string, 5th fret, is the A note. That means that every minor pentatonic scale root note fret, gets its name from the note on the Low E string. If you moved this exact fingering pattern to the 3rd fret, it would now be G minor pentatonic scale, root note fret. If you moved it to the 12th fret, it would be Em pentatonic root note fret. This may be one of the most important things to comprehend. In time, you will be able to play lead guitar in any key, with no problem at all.

You will need to listen to this song and try to figure it out from ear. Listen to it as much as possible and try to play each note. In our next lesson, I will write out the tab to it and you can see how close you were.

Look at the note on the Low E string 5th fret. That note is the A note. All the notes of the A minor pentatonic scale are in the 5th fret. The A note is the root note for the A minor pentatonic scale. This is one of the most popular positions to play the A minor pentatonic scale. As you play this scale, you will notice that your 1 finger never has to leave the 5th fret position. Look at the notes on the 5th fret. Compare both illustrations below. One has the notes of the A minor pentatonic scale, root note fret, the other has the fingers you use to play the scale. 

The B minor pentatonic scale, at the root note fret, has been included below. Notice that the B minor pentatonic scale at the root note fret, has the same fingering pattern as the A minor pentatonic scale, but is 2 frets higher and starts on the 7th fret, B note.

Before we play lead guitar using this scale, you need to be able to play this scale in your sleep. This scale and variations of this scale are used by the greatest guitarists in the world. Rock, blues, punk, metal you name it, they use it.

I wouldn’t be wasting your time if it wasn’t that important to learn. 

Assignment:

• Tune your guitar
• Look over the open chords.
• Review the root 6 bar chords.
• Review the root 5 bar chords.
• Strum the Am, F and G chords as much as possible.
• Try picking each note of the Am, F and G chords.
• Continue to practice the Am pentatonic scale root note fret and alternate your picking up and down.
• Continue to practice this position Am pentatonic scale starting at the 8th fret.
• Practice the exercises everyday. 
• Listen to the slow intro song.
• Listen to our slow song beefed up a little for the electric guitar. This is played in Am pentatonic, root note fret. The root note fret is the 5th fret for Am pentatonic. 
• Copy the illustration below and circle all the notes of the Am pentatonic scale in the entire illustration. The notes are A, C, D, E and G.
• Play everyone of those notes up and down the fret board while looking at the illustration. Say each note out loud as you pick it. Also, begin to memorize each note and the position.
• Notice that each note repeats every 12 frets.
• Notice that the Am pentatonic scale at the 17th fret has the same fingering pattern as the 5th fret. Everything repeats after 12 frets and that goes for scales too. Look at the illustration below and notice how the two yellow circles have the same notes and fingering pattern. That goes for all of the circles below. Every note and pattern repeats after 12 frets.
• Check out Am pentatonic starting on the C note. Find it here.
• Listen to this position.

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Good Luck

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