First Position Major Pentatonic Scales - Scale Basics

Major Pentatonic Scales in First Position Video Transcript

Hello, friends. Chris with BeginningGuitarOnline.com. In this series of videos, we're going through major pentatonic scales in the first position.

C Major Pentatonic

Let's look through the pattern: third finger, open fourth, second finger, open third, second finger, first finger, and then back down. Let's play through it together. One, two, three, four.

G major Pentatonic

Let's talk through the pattern: third finger, open fifth, second finger, open fourth, second finger, open third, second finger, open second, third finger, open first, the third finger, and then back down. Let's play through it together. One, two, three, four.

D major Pentatonic

Let's talk through the pattern: open fourth, two, four, second, open seconds, third, then back down. Let's play through it together. One, two, ready, play.

A major Pentatonic

This particular pattern will be in two octaves. We'll go from the A, fifth string, up to our pinky, A on the fifth fret of the first string. Let's talk through the pattern: open fifth, two, four, two, four, two, open, two, open, one, four. Then back down: four, one, open E, two, open, two, four, two, four, two, open fifth. Let's play through it together. One, two, three, four.

E major Pentatonic

This will also cover two octaves across all six strings. Let's talk through the pattern: open sixth, two, four, two, four, two, four, one, two, open second, two, open first and then back down. Let's play through it together. One, two, ready, play.

B major Pentatonic

The notes associated with the C Major Pentatonic are: B-C#-D#-F#-G#-B

This will be just one octave. Let’s talk through the pattern: the second finger on the second fret of the fifth string, that's our B, two, four, next string, one, four, next string, one, four, and back down. You'll notice, no open strings in this pattern. One, two, ready, play.

Happy practicing. As you continue to be more comfortable with these pentatonic patterns, you'll notice how they're found in some of your favorite songs and some of the greatest songs of all time. A well-developed set of pentatonic patterns is one of the most useful tools any guitarist can have in their toolbox.

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ScalesDave DoughertySeptember 30, 2021major scales, major pentatonic, c major, g major, d major, a major, e major, b major, Chris Becknell