More Patterns and Techniques

Major Pentatonic Scale

Two Major Pentatonic scale patterns are shown as follows. You will notice that these two patterns are the same as the Minor Pentatonic patterns except the key notes are located in a different position.

C Major Pentatonic Scale
(Pattern One)

C Major Pentatonic Scale
(Pattern Two)

Pattern One and Two Combination - Major Pentatonic

The most common Major Pentatonic pattern is a combination of patterns one and two. This pattern includes two new notes on the 5th and 6th strings, two frets lower than the first pattern.

The following lick is in played within the previous pattern. This lick has a slight Country sound to it. The major pentatonic scale is frequently used in Country Rock music.

Staccato Picking

A technique that is quite distinct to Rock fingerpicking is the use of staccato picking. This technique is best achieved by using both the fretting finger and the picking finger. Applying staccato to a note involves cutting the note short by stopping the note ringing. This can be executed in two ways. The fretting hand can simply release the pressure of the string against the fretboard immediately after the note has sounded.

As an option the right hand finger or thumb that picks the string can be placed back onto the string, also stopping the note sounding. When you are comfortable with playing the Rock fingerpicking style you will discover you will use both methods, depending on the situation. Staccato is notated as a dot above or below the music note and tab number.

The next lick is also played within the major pentatonic scale. Staccato notes are used.

Right Hand Damping

An important element of Rock fingerpicking technique is the use of the right hand. Generally the right hand should damp all the strings when notes are not being played by resting the right hand thumb and fingers on the strings. Damping the strings will avoid unwanted noises that can be produced, especially from and electric guitar at high volume.

The first photo as follows shows the right hand in the first position with the thumb resting across the four lower strings and the i and m fingers resting on the second and first strings respectively.

The second photo shows the right hand in the second position with the thumb resting across the three lower strings and the i and m fingers resting on the third and second strings respectively. The right hand ring finger (a) can also be used to rest on the first string.

This close association between the right hand and the strings is vital in producing a clean sounding passage of notes when fingerpicking a lick.

Right Hand Damping - First Position

Right Hand Damping - Second Position

Using right hand damping

Right hand damping should be applied throughout a lick or solo. The following lick is played in the first position. Try to keep the right hand thumb resting on the four lower strings while the i and a fingers play the second and first strings.

When a note must be played on the third string with the thumb, rest the right hand fingers back onto the second and first strings, thus damping the first two strings as the third string is played. When no notes are played rest the right hand thumb and fingers on all the strings as shown in the previous photos.

This technique will take a while to develop but is important in producing a clean sounding lick. The following lick is played within the major pentatonic pattern - D position.

Using the a Finger

Sometimes you may find it necessary to use the right hand ring finger (a) to pick the first string. This situation will arise when the right hand is playing mainly in the second position but an occasional note must be picked on the first string. Instead of changing the position of the right hand the a finger can be used. This is demonstrated in the following lick.

Third Position - Right Hand

So far throughout this book all the licks were played on the first four strings. However there are times when the fifth string is needed. This will require the right hand to play in the third position. The right hand thumb (p) is allocated to the 5th string, the right hand index finger (i) to the 4th string and the right middle finger (m) to the 3rd string.

The following lick is in C major pentatonic. The right hand moves between the second and third positions.

Fourth Position - Right Hand

Finally, sometimes the right hand must use the fourth position if the sixth string is played. The right hand thumb (p) is allocated to the 6th string, the right hand index finger (i) to the 5th string and the right middle finger (m) to the 4th string.

The A Blues scale is used for the next lick. The right hand moves between the third and fourth positions.

Left Hand Damping

When picking the bass strings it may be necessary to damp the strings with the left hand. This is done by resting the bottom part of the left hand first finger across the first two or three strings. The finger touches the strings lightly stopping these strings from sounding. This is shown in the following photo.