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intermediate course

Pentatonic Scales and Fretboard Navigation

Go beyond memorised boxes: know where every root is, connect all five positions, and move them to any key.

By the end you'll be able to:

  • Build major and minor pentatonic scales from their parent scales
  • Find the roots in all five positions, in any key
  • Connect positions and use them to start improvising
Your progress8 lessons
Start: Five-Note Scales

Pentatonic Scales and Fretboard Navigation

Construction, relative pentatonics, the five positions, connecting shapes, transposition and first phrases.

  1. Five-Note ScalesTake two notes out of a major or minor scale and you get the guitarist's favourite scale.9 min · 4 exercises
  2. Major and Minor Pentatonic: Same NotesRelative keys carry over: every minor pentatonic is also a major pentatonic.8 min · 4 exercises
  3. Position 1: The BoxThe most famous shape in rock and blues, and exactly where its roots are.10 min · 4 exercises
  4. The Five PositionsFive boxes cover the whole neck. Each one starts where the last one ends.12 min · 3 exercises
  5. Connecting the PositionsStop being stuck in one box: move along strings and slide between shapes.12 min · 4 exercises
  6. Moving Pentatonic Shapes to Any KeyOne rule moves all five positions: put position 1 on the minor root.10 min · 5 exercises
  7. Making Music with the PentatonicTurn shapes into phrases: target roots, repeat ideas, leave space.10 min · 4 exercises
  8. Checkpoint: Pentatonic NavigationCheckpointBuild, place and navigate pentatonic scales in any key and position.12 min · 7 exercises