E minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale
Also G Major
Progression: Em-C-G-D & B5-C-D-Em
A fixed position guitar scale means that you don't shift, but you stay in one position while playing the all of the tones of the scale (rather than shifting as in a linear scale). Even when we shift one or two positions, we'll stretch the term fixed to include the 7 Major scale patterns.
First, the E minor Pentatonic scale (5 tones). [This scale is also G Major Pentatonic].
Pentatonic Frame One E minor / G Major
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.
Question: 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, and use slurs (pulls, hammers, slides, bends, & vibrato).
Experiment with trying different combinations of tones against the chords. Even playing double stops and triple stops in as many combinations as you discover.
You are studying how tones interact with other tones, & you are learning to listen to your melodic sensibilities which will expand and deepen with training, and exploration. You might be surprised by what emerges (emergents - or natural 'happenings'). Don't judge, rather focus on a tonal flow with listening awareness on tension and resolution. Push and pull against the progression audio.
