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In this lesson we will work with the rhythm using the Am F and G chords. This exercise plays 5 different positions of the Am pentatonic scale. The first part of the exercises uses the first yellow circle above. This is the root note fret position for the Am pentatonic scale and the exercise starts at the 5th fret, high E string.
Look at the illustration below. This is the first part of the exercise and it has been written in tablature form. By now, you should be familiar with tablature, if not please go back and review.
 | Drum Track |
| This is the beginning part of our exercise. This is played at the root note fret. I didn't intend for this exercise to have much of a melodic sound, but just an exercise. |
Look at the illustration above. The numbers at the bottom of the image represent the suggested fingering to play the first part of our exercise. Now you need to listen to the exercise, playing the complete exercise. As our lessons advance, the leads will become more melodic and add some tonal quality. But for now, we have to learn what is going on with these pentatonic scales.
I would like to stick something in here before we move on. This may seem confusing, but eventually things will become clearer. The rhythm we are using for these exercises are Am F and G chord. Now, you may have noticed that the F chord or note is no where to be found in the Am pentatonic scale. It may be a good time to tell everyone that the Am pentatonic scale has the same exact notes as the C Major pentatonic scale. The C Major pentatonic scale has the notes C D E G and A. The Am pentatonic scale is developed from the Aeolian mode and the C major pentatonic is developed from the C major or Ionian mode.The Am pentatonic scale has the notes A C D E and G. Every Major scale has a relative or natural minor scale. The reason I have been explaining the Key of C major and the Am pentatonic scale is for this very reason. Once you learn the key of C Major and the modes and the Am pentatonic scale, you will be on your way to playing great guitar without even thinking about it.
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| The rhythm we are using comes out of the key of C major. We are using the Am F and G chords. Look above and find those chords in the outer circle. This illustration shows all of the chords of the Key of C major. Each section has the notes that make up each chord as well. The Am chord is made up of the A C and E notes. |
| Now listen to the complete exercise.. The audio file will play every position of the Am pentatonic scale starting with root note fret below. Use the other positions of the Am scale to play the whole exercise. This would be Am root note fret, Am at the C note, Am at the D note and Am at the E note. |
| This is the tablature for the first part. Practice this until you can play it smooth. Listen to each note being played and begin to train your ear to each sound. |
Back to the rhythm Am F and G. The key of C major has the notes C D E F G A B and C. The chords would be C Dm Em F G Am B dim and C. So, by knowing these notes and chords of C major you can write your song with these chords. I have chose the Am F and G right out of the Key of C major. Since Am is the natural minor to the key of C major, playing the Am pentatonic scale over the chords of the key of C major would rock. Eventually, we will add two notes to the Am pentatonic scale. The two notes are the F and B. These are the two notes out of the key of C major omitted from the Am pentatonic scale. The pentatonic scale is only a 5 note scale. Once those two extra notes are added, we would be playing modes. That was just a little information I thought you should think about. In the lessons a head of us, we will go into this in more detail. By the way, the last little lick on this exercise was played with the two extra notes added. Could you tell it was a little more melodic?
Listen to this progression using the chords C Am F and G. Play a few notes using the scale below over it and see what you can come up with. Also use the Am pentatonic scale and see how it sounds.
I've played a slow easy lead over this progression using the C major scale above the Am pentatonic scale.
Assignments:
| Tune your guitar. |
| Practice this exercise in the root note position. |
| Try to play this exercise in the next position, starting on the C note, 8th fret high E string. |
| Practice the open position chords. |
| Practice the root 6 bar chords in every position along the Low E string. |
| Practice the root 5 bar chords along the A string. |
| Practice the Am pentatonic scale starting on the C note 8th fret. |
| Review the hammer-ons, pull-offs and bending. |
| Practice the Am pentatonic scales in all positions. |
| Practice the grouping of notes in the Am pentatonic scale. |
| Practice the Major pentatonic scales and exercises included. |
| Practice the Major progressions. |
| Review the major scales. |
| Review the key of C major and modes. |
Good luck,
From the Jam Room