The notes of the A Major Pentatonic Scale are A, B, C#, E, F#
A Major Pentatonic Scale – All Across the Neck
A Major Pentatonic Scale – Pattern 1
A Major Pentatonic Scale – Pattern 2
A Major Pentatonic Scale – Pattern 3
A Major Pentatonic Scale – Pattern 4
A Major Pentatonic Scale – Pattern 5
A Major Pentatonic Scale – Low Strings
A Major Pentatonic Scale – High Strings
Try the following when playing this scale:
Use a metronome – start very slowly.
Play cleanly – Focus on fingering every note cleanly.
Alternate pick – Alternate between up and down. Play quarter notes and then eighth notes.
Down pick all notes – Play quarter notes and then eighth notes.
Triplets – Alternate pick 3 notes for each beat.
16th notes – Alternate pick 4 notes for each beat.
Fingerpick – Use just your fingers to pick. Thumb plays the top 3 strings, Index, Middle and Ring fingers play the bottom strings respectively. Thumb, index, middle and ring are usually indicated by the initials P, I, M, A.
Alternate Fingerpick – Alternate Index & Middle fingers to play each note of the scale.
Use hammer on’s and pull off’s – Can you play each one without picking?
Speed up – As you feel more comfortable, try to increase the metronome speed.
Turn off metronome – Play the exercises but name each note that you play (without looking at the diagrams). Go as slow as you like.
Name the notes – Play exercises and name only the root notes (without looking at the diagrams).
Different positions – Do all the exercises and picking variations for each position.