E minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale

Audio File for Improvising

Progression (form = V C V C T)
Verse: Em C Am C D
Chorus: G Bm C C
Tag: Em C
5.7 MB mp3 download - click to open in new window. Right click to save file.

A fixed position guitar scale means that you don't shift, rather you stay in one position while playing all of the tones of the scale (rather than shifting as in a linear scale).

The E minor Pentatonic scale has 5 tones: E G A B D. [This scale is also G Major Pentatonic - G A B D E]. Penta- = 5, -tonic = tones. Penta + tonic = 5 tones.

Pentatonic Frame One E minor

e minor pentatonic guitar scale in a scale frame

When you see this many dots on one frame, you can assume that it is a scale frame. Here is how you interpret this frame (written in tablature):

e minor pentatonic in tablature

Practice this scale slowly, focusing on your picking & timing.

Position

Did you choose 1st position or 2nd position?

In first position, you'd use 2's & 3's to play the tones. In second position, you'd use 1's & 2's to play the tones. Try it both ways, determine which suits you best.

Once you have this down 'academically' (in order), try some of these figures & experiment with 'being melodic'.

a variety of rhythmic and melodic figures

Use the audio file at the top of this page to improvise. It will work best at first to stay on the treble strings (E, B, & G). Try playing just one of the tones for a whole round of the progressions. You can also repeat tones, & use slurs (pulls, hammers, slides, bends, & vibrato).

Experiment with trying different combinations of tones against the chords. Even playing double stops & triple stops in as many combinations as you discover.

You are studying how tones interact with other tones, & you are developing your melodic hearing & memory. You might be surprised by what emerges. Don't judge, rather focus on a tonal flow with listening awareness. Listen for tension & resolution. Push & pull against the audio.

C Major Guitar Scale

7 Major Scale Patterns	"The 7." The Standard Tuning Worldview Changer. This map is a Big Picture. Join the Conversation.
5 Pentatonic Frames	"The 5." We call the Pentatonic Patterns, Frames. Frames. Major & minor Mega-map. Go.
CAGED Scales	Like with chords, scale patterns follow a Cycle of Forms [CAGED + Bb & F]. Free me.
C Major	This is a Foundation Scale. Jam to Audio. Foundation.
Movable C Scale Form	And then, we add one fret. One of 7 Scale Forms on Fretboard Tour. Go.
E minor / G Major Pentatonic	Another Set of "The 5", Now in E minor/G. Improvise to a Jam Track. Now.