Five pentatonic positions

Box 1 covers only a few frets. The same five notes repeat in five shapes that together cover the whole neck. Each shape overlaps its neighbour, which is how you connect them. Learning them turns a box into a map.

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

• Play all five positions of A minor pentatonic.
• Connect two neighbouring positions by sliding on one string.
• Name the root notes in each position.

Box 1 covers only frets 5 to 8. The same five notes repeat all the way up the neck in five positions (boxes). They are numbered from the root on the 6th string. Each is a different slice of the same notes, with two notes per string.

Overlap. Neighbouring positions share notes. The higher note of position 1 on a string is the lower note of position 2 on that string. That shared note is your connection point.

Connecting positions. To change position, slide on a single string: finish a phrase in position 1, then slide a finger from one of its notes to the next note up, which belongs to position 2. Then carry on in position 2.

Roots. In each position, the A notes are in different places. Learning where they are in each box keeps you oriented.

For A minor pentatonic the five positions start at frets 5, 8, 10, 12 and 15 on the 6th string.

Connecting position 1 to position 2 on the 3rd string.

1. In position 1, play fret 5 then fret 7 on the 3rd string (C then D).
2. Slide your finger from fret 7 up to fret 9 (E). Fret 9 belongs to position 2.
3. Now you are in position 2. Play the 2nd string at frets 8 and 10.
4. Come back: slide from fret 9 on the 3rd string down to fret 7, and you are in position 1 again.

Do the same on the 4th string: position 1 has frets 5 and 7; position 2 has frets 7 and 10. Slide from 7 to 10 on one string.

Do these in order. Each one is small. Tick the ones you have practised.

• 1.Learn positions 1 and 2

  5 min · 50 → 70 BPM

  1. Play position 1 (frets 5 to 8) ascending and descending.
  2. Play position 2 (frets 7 to 10). Notice it shares the notes on frets 7 and 8 with position 1.
  3. Play each position with alternate picking and name the roots.

  You have it when

  • You can play both positions at 60 BPM, ascending and descending.
  I practised this one

• 2.Slide to connect

  4 min

  1. Play position 1 on the 3rd string (frets 5 and 7).
  2. From the 7th fret, slide up to the 9th fret, which belongs to position 2.
  3. Continue in position 2 on the next string.
  4. Come back to position 1 by sliding down.

  You have it when

  • You can slide between positions 1 and 2 smoothly on at least two strings.
  I practised this one

• 3.Name the roots

  4 min

  1. For each position, find the A notes: say the string and fret.
  2. Hum A, then play each root and check that it matches.
  3. Do this for positions 3, 4 and 5 once you know the shapes.

  You have it when

  • You can find at least two roots in each position without help.
  I practised this one

Start at 50 BPM and learn one new position at a time. Position 1 is already easy; the new ones need slow repetition. Target 70 BPM for each.

• Learning all five shapes at once. Learn one new position per session. Review the old ones first.
• Playing each position in isolation. Always connect it to the neighbour using shared notes and slides.
• Forgetting the roots. A position without roots is a pattern without a home. Name the roots as you play.

With five positions you can solo across the whole neck rather than staying in one place. That gives you more range and lets you follow a melody wherever it goes.

Short version (10 minutes)

Play positions 1 and 2 at 60 BPM and slide between them on one string.

Standard version (about 30 minutes)

Do all three exercises, then learn position 3 using the diagrams and connect it to position 2.

• Five positions cover the whole neck.
• Neighbouring positions share notes.
• Slide on one string to connect them.
• Name the roots in each position.

You are ready to move on when you can honestly say:

• I can play all five A minor pentatonic positions.
• I can connect two neighbouring positions by sliding.
• I can name the roots in each position.