What is the pentatonic scale? A pentatonic scale is a scale with five notes per octave. A major pentatonic scale consists of the root, the second, the third, the fifth, and the sixth note in the scale. The root, second, third, fifth, and sixth. The scale is used in traditional music all over the world, you can hear the pentatonic scale being used in blues, jazz, rock, pop, funk, metal, bluegrass, folk RMB. in practically every genre of music, it's a pretty safe scale to solo over.
There's no two notes in the scale when played together can create a minor second or a flat fifth. This is what a minor second sounds like or for and this is what a Flat fit sounds like I personally use the scale to see where I'm at all over the neck. The pentatonic pattern fits together like a puzzle going up the neck and down the neck. This is the pentatonic pattern for position number one. These higher notes right here. Become then the lower notes for the next position for position number two.
So the two pentatonic patterns share the same set of notes that happens between all five patterns they fit together like a big giant puzzle. I think of the pentatonic scale is my foundation. I've spent a lot of time learning practicing and memorizing I spent endless hours soloing over songs and backing tracks until I was able to quickly play any pentatonic scale over the neck. Whenever I play a chord, I instantly know what the pentatonic notes are available to me right where that chord is. Once I see the pentatonic scale, I can quickly visualize what the scale looks like. The pentatonic scale is already five out of seven notes in a major scale, then you just have to add in the fourth and the seventh, and then you'll have the whole scale.
The pentatonic scale goes 12356. And if I added four and seven, it would be 12345671. And then it would be the full major scale or a full Ionian scale. Once I can visualize the scale, I can see what the chord tones are available to me. Then I decide if I want to play the pentatonic scale, the appropriate scale for the chord or the chord tones for the current chord. Some guitar players are more skill based or arpeggio based.
For whatever reason I've always been more of a pentatonic bass guitar player. I highly recommend spending a good amount of time learning the five pentatonic patterns. They will become your friends and help you sound great on guitar for the rest of your life.