Five Pentatonic Scale Fingerings

These five fingerings for the pentatonic scale will serve you well as you learn to play many styles. Memorize all of them.

Important note

Note that each pattern begins on the second note of the previous pattern. For instance, the 2^nd degree starts with “A”, which is the second note in the pattern for the 1^st degree.

Additional note

Similarly, notice how the patterns lock together. The row of rightmost notes in the first pattern is the same as the row of leftmost notes in the second. This continues all the way up the neck.

Pattern 1 (Pentatonic Major)

Pattern 2

Pattern 3

Pattern 4

Pattern 5 (Pentatonic Minor)

Key Tasks

1. Memorize all five pentatonic scale patterns; be able to play them in any key.
2. Use the pentatonic scale patterns to improvise with major pentatonic.
3. Use the patterns to improvise with minor pentatonic.