Major Pentatonic Scale Forms

Lesson 2/38 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Beginner Blues Guitar Licks

Major Pentatonic Scale Forms

Shown below are the five forms of the major pentatonic scale (shown here in the key of C). Its degrees are 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. Notice that the patterns are the same as that of the minor pentatonic scale. The difference is the positions of the root notes.

E Form (Pattern One)

D Form (Pattern Two)

C Form (Pattern Three)

A Form (Pattern Four)

G Form (Pattern Five)

The following examples are played in various forms of the major pentatonic scale. This first one is in the E form.

This one is a turnaround for a slow Blues. It is played in the G form.

Here’s one played in the C form. This is a position that BB King uses a lot.

This lick begins in the A form, moves through the G form and ends in the E form

This one is similar to some of the acoustic boogie lines Lightnin’ Hopkins plays. Gatemouth Brown also plays similar licks. It begins in the E form and ends in the G form.

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Class Sessions

1- Playing Over Turnarounds 2- Dominant 7th Arpeggio Forms 3- Minor Pentatonic Scale Forms 4- Major Pentatonic Scale Forms 5- INTRODUCTION 6- Blues Scale Forms 7- Open Position E Form Blues Scale 8- Endings 9- 6ths and 3rds 10- Combining Scales and Sounds 11- Licks Derived From the E Form 12- Fretboard Diagrams 13- Intros 14- E Form Licks (Blues Scale) 15- Left-Hand Fingers 16- Triplets and Swing Eighth Notes 17- Combined Scales Solo 18- Licks Using 6ths 19- Licks Derived From the D Form 20- Stops 21- D and C Form Licks (Blues Scale) 22- Licks Using 3rds 23- Tablature 24- Call and Response 25- Solo Using 6ths and 3rds 26- Tablature Symbols 27- Licks Derived From the C Form 28- A and G Form Licks (Blues Scale) 29- Blues Call and Response Pattern 30- Blues Scale Solo 31- Licks Derived From the A Form 32- Guitars and Amplifiers 33- Licks Derived From the G Form 34- Dynamics 35- Licks Moving Between Forms 36- A Final Solo 37- Summary of Scales 38- Playing in all Keys

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Major Pentatonic Scale Forms