Which Pentatonic Shape?

Torgot

Torgot

Multimeh
Hey Guys.

I've been doing a lot of reviewing and attempting to learn new things on my guitar. I have something that is a bit unclear for me and I wanted to reach out to you for some advice. I know my pentatonic shapes and can play them in order ok, but where I have some confusion is knowing which shape to play when in different keys. For example do I use the 1st pentatonic shape in the key of C or do I use the 4th shape? Do they all start with the 1st pattern or does each one have a different pattern they start with?

I thought I had it figured out, but I'm not sure so I wanted to ask. This is my understanding (right or wrong).

For Minor Pentatonic
If starting on the low E string the pentatonic pattern for the key starts in shape 1,
If starting on the A string the pentatonic pattern for that starts in shape 4.

For Major Pentatonic
Low E string uses shape 2
A string uses shape 5.

Honestly I am pretty frustrated.

I also am not sure if there are other rules or shapes to start with if I am for whatever reason starting on the D string.

So I'm turning to you all for advice and/or instruction on this. Unfortunately when I was younger I didn't learn this as I should have, but I guess better late than never.

thanks in advance guys.
 
Torgot said:
Hey Guys.

I've been doing a lot of reviewing and attempting to learn new things on my guitar. I have something that is a bit unclear for me and I wanted to reach out to you for some advice. I know my pentatonic shapes and can play them in order ok, but where I have some confusion is knowing which shape to play when in different keys. For example do I use the 1st pentatonic shape in the key of C or do I use the 4th shape? Do they all start with the 1st pattern or does each one have a different pattern they start with?

I thought I had it figured out, but I'm not sure so I wanted to ask. This is my understanding (right or wrong).

For Minor Pentatonic
If starting on the low E string the pentatonic pattern for the key starts in shape 1,
If starting on the A string the pentatonic pattern for that starts in shape 4.

For Major Pentatonic
Low E string uses shape 2
A string uses shape 5.

Honestly I am pretty frustrated.

I also am not sure if there are other rules or shapes to start with if I am for whatever reason starting on the D string.

So I'm turning to you all for advice and/or instruction on this. Unfortunately when I was younger I didn't learn this as I should have, but I guess better late than never.

thanks in advance guys.
Click to expand...
If you're available, I can answer your question live in about 20 minutes:
at 9am PST!
 
Mark Wein said:
If you're available, I can answer your question live in about 20 minutes:
at 9am PST!
Click to expand...

Mr. Wein
Thank you. I'm sorry I wasn't able to do that. I'm on the other side of the planet currently so I'm 18 hours ahead of you. Do you have something I can review on that? I assume you were doing a live feed and if so do you have the site where I can view it?
 
Torgot said:
Mr. Wein
Thank you. I'm sorry I wasn't able to do that. I'm on the other side of the planet currently so I'm 18 hours ahead of you. Do you have something I can review on that? I assume you were doing a live feed and if so do you have the site where I can view it?
Click to expand...
I didn't talk about it yesterday but I'm doing a livestream this morning so I'll cover it today and post the link!
 
I don't think shapes are necessarily a bad focus for someone just beginning to get into soloing. You can do a lot with just the first position pentatonic. It's just that this guy probably saw a chart somewhere and got confused, thinking that the different positions are for different keys.
The simple answer to what I think he's asking is that they all start in first position. The first position pentatonic shape for the key you're soloing in corresponds with the name of the note on the E string. If you're playing in E, your first position is open or on the 12th fret (an octave up). If you're playing in A, your first position is on the 5th fret or 17th fret (an octave up). Obviously, that's merely scratching the surface, but that's exactly how I started when I was learning to solo.
 
micwalt said:
I don't think shapes are necessarily a bad focus for someone just beginning to get into soloing. You can do a lot with just the first position pentatonic. It's just that this guy probably saw a chart somewhere and got confused, thinking that the different positions are for different keys.
The simple answer to what I think he's asking is that they all start in first position. The first position pentatonic shape for the key you're soloing in corresponds with the name of the note on the E string. If you're playing in E, your first position is open or on the 12th fret (an octave up). If you're playing in A, your first position is on the 5th fret or 17th fret (an octave up). Obviously, that's merely scratching the surface, but that's exactly how I started when I was learning to solo.
Click to expand...
Pretty much what I am going to demo on the livestream. :thu:
 
On a related note, something called Guitar Mastery just popped up in my FB feed, boasting of its revolutionary guitar conveyor belt system. It's literally just the first position pentatonic, and the dude is acting like he's discovered all the secrets of the universe.
 
micwalt said:
On a related note, something called Guitar Mastery just popped up in my FB feed, boasting of its revolutionary guitar conveyor belt system. It's literally just the first position pentatonic, and the dude is acting like he's discovered all the secrets of the universe.
Click to expand...

This guy?

Screen Shot 2022-01-07 at 12.05.22 PM.png
 
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