The 5 Pentatonic Positions
The minor pentatonic has 5 positions that tile across the fretboard. Learning all 5 gives you complete fretboard freedom.
Position 1: The Box (Frets 5-8 in Am)
e|--5-----8--| B|--5-----8--| G|--5--7-----| D|--5--7-----| A|--5--7-----| E|--5-----8--|
Position 2 (Frets 8-10)
e|--8--10----| B|--8--10----| G|--7--9-----| D|--7--10----| A|--7--10----| E|--8--10----|
Position 3 (Frets 10-12)
e|--10--12---| B|--10--13---| G|--9---12---| D|--10--12---| A|--10--12---| E|--10--12---|
Connecting Positions
The key to breaking out of boxes: use slides to shift between positions. Slide from the last note of one position into the first note of the next.
Position 1 → Position 2 via slide: G|--5--7--7s9--| (slide on 3rd string) Position 2 → Position 3 via slide: B|--8--10--10s13--| (slide on 2nd string)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
E
E
G
A
C
D
E
B
C
D
E
G
A
G
G
A
C
D
E
G
D
D
E
G
A
C
D
A
A
C
D
E
G
A
E
E
G
A
C
D
E
See all 5 positions connected across the entire fretboard.
Open in full appPractice Across Positions
AmGFAm
Solo over this and practice moving between positions 1, 2, and 3.
Next Steps
Add vocabulary with pentatonic licks and expand your palette with the blues scale.