The A minor pentatonic scale is essential for lead guitarists. Mastering pentatonic runs and licks in the first position will allow you to play smoking guitar solos with ease. In this lesson, we’ll break down 10 must-know minor pentatonic patterns to boost your lead playing.
The A Minor Pentatonic Scale
The A minor pentatonic scale contains the following notes: A C D E G
When played in the first position, these notes correspond to the following frets on the guitar:
Example 1
e|------------------------------5-8-|
B|-------------------------5-8------|
G|--------------------5-7-----------|
D|---------------5-7----------------|
A|---------5-7----------------------|
E|--5--8----------------------------|
Example 2
e|--8-5--------------------------------|
B|---------8-5-------------------------|
G|---------------7-5-------------------|
D|---------------------7-5-------------|
A|---------------------------7-5-------|
E|---------------------------------8-5-|
Example 3
e|--5-------------------------------------|
B|------8-5-8-5-----5---------------------|
G|------------------7-----7-5-7-5---------|
D|--------------------------------------7-| x4
A|----------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------|
Example 4
e|---5--------------------------------|
B|------5-8------5--------------------|
G|-------------7------5--7------------|
D|-----------------------------7------|x4
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|
Example 5
e|------------------------------------|
B|----------5--------5----------------|
G|----5-7-----5-7---------------------|
D|------------------------------------|x4
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|
Example 6
e|---------5-------5-------8----------|
B|---5-8-----5-8---5-8----------------|
G|------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------|x4
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|
Example 7
e|------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------|
G|--------5--------5------------------|
D|--5-7-----5-7-----------------------| X4
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|
Example 8
e|--------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------5-|
D|---------------------------5--5-7-5-7-------| x4
A|------5----5-7-5-7--7--7--------------------|
E|5-8----8------------------------------------|
Example 9
e|-----------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------|
G|----------------------5-7----------|
D|---------5-7--5-7-------5----------|x4
A|----5-7-----5----------------------|
E|-----------------------------------|
Example 10
e|------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------5----5--|
G|---------------------5------5-7--5-7------|
D|------5-------5-7----5-7------------------| x4
A|5-7----5-7--------------------------------|
e|------------------------------------------|
Get Started with These Patterns
Learning and memorizing these minor pentatonic runs is crucial for boosting your lead guitar skills. Be sure to start slow with a metronome, focusing on clean execution and tight alternate picking. As you become more comfortable, pick up the speed. Apply these licks to your guitar solos and improvisations to spice up your playing.
The pentatonic scale is a staple of blues, rock, and other guitar genres. Unlock your potential by mastering these essential A minor pentatonic licks today!
