E minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale
Audio File for Improvising
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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
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):
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'.
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.
| 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. |


