Guitar lessons: Most of us are familiar with shape 1 of the good old minor pentatonic scale – even if we don't realise it. Even seasoned, experienced players gravitate towards it. Eric Clapton, Angus Young and a host of blues-rock guitarists have based their careers around this staple shape. But here we’re looking at two scale boxes positioned above and below shape 1, allowing you to go way beyond the confines of the basic shape.
Locking together with shape 1 like jigsaw pieces, these shapes will expand your soloing possibilities from four frets to nine. First learn the three shapes by playing each up and down in turn, then try the two licks that will help you stick them together.
The scale shapes
There are three scale shapes here – you probably already know shape 1. Take a look at shapes 2 and 5 and notice how they link up to shape 1, allowing you to extend all your shape 1 licks farther up or down the fretboard.
Sliding to change position
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Two-string lick
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Learn more: The ultimate minor pentatonic guitar lesson: all the skills to get started
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“There’s three of us playing guitar in Foo Fighters… A lot of tone details can get lost, which is what drew me to the Cleaver – that P-90 cut”: Chris Shiflett on how he found his weapon of choice with his Fender Cleaver Telecaster Deluxe
“Notes dance rhythmically, almost creating a reverb diffusion. Those notes are held together with tape-style effects”: Keeley Electronics and Andy Timmons unveil the Halo Core – same modulated dual echo magic, simplified controls
