How To Use The Pentatonic Scale Box Pattern 3 For Your Guitar Solos
The pentatonic scale box pattern 3
Today we are going to learn how to use the pentatonic scale box pattern 3 for your guitar solos. By this lesson, you should have learned box pattern 1 (the minor pentatonic) and pattern 2 (the major pentatonic) and now be ready for the 3rd box pattern to add to your creativity and fretboard knowledge.
If you haven’t learned the first and second box patterns, not to worry, lessons for those will be presented below. The best way to get started playing guitar solos is to learn scales. And the best ones to start out with are your pentatonic scales.
Box patterns
The pentatonic scales are often called box patterns and the reason for this is because they are shaped in the form of a box, and it is this formation that makes them easy to learn, easy to understand & easy to play. As I’ve mentioned before, there are 5 in all. Learn all 5 of them and you’ll be able to play all over the fretboard and stay in key. The reason for this is because these box patterns link together. Once you learn the intervals, you can always sound great!
Why they are beneficial
The reason why they are so beneficial to your guitar playing is that they span from one octave to the next. If you start on the G note on the 3rd fret sixth string and go through all 5 patterns, you’ll end up on the G note in the second octave. This will be located on the 15th fret.
Like I said before, you can link them together and play all over the fretboard. This will allow you to stay in key and play what sounds good to the ear. With this kind of freedom, you can add versatility to your playing.
Box pattern 3
As you can see, the notes in this pattern are in a “box shape” and that is what makes them easy to play. The notes line up in such a way that they work well over minor and major chord progression in any key. The secret is that you need to know where to play them for each one.
In the example above, the A minor pentatonic scale box pattern 3 is located at the 10th fret. So if you were playing in the key of A minor, your first box pattern would be at the 5th fret, pattern 2 would be at the 8th fret and pattern 3 would be located at the 10th fret. Now you could play all the way from the 5th fret to the 10th and be able to sound good staying in key.
Of course, the location of these patterns would change with every key you play in (this is where most guitarists get hung up) but they would always stay in the same order. This is what makes them easy to master. Once you learn their order and how to connect them, your set. You just need to know where to play them in any given key.
Video example below
Add to your fretboard knowledge
As I mentioned before, not only can you use these scales to play in key and sound good when you do, they also add to your fretboard knowledge. They allow you to uncover more of the mysteries that the guitar has to offer. Believe me, there are many to uncover. That is why a person can play the guitar for years and still not know it all. Kind of like uncovering the mysteries of Egypt.
The more you know about the notes on your fretboard, the more you are going to know how to use them. This way you’ll be able to do whatever it is you want with the guitar. Learning to play the guitar is a very personalized journey that is different for everyone. And the more time you put into knowing your instrument and how it works, the better you’re going to be.
Lead Guitar Wizardry
If you feel you are getting a better understanding of what is being taught in this lesson and others I’ve taught on the subject, be sure to check out my method book I’ve published Lead Guitar Wizardry volume 1. This method book teaches you how to build a solid foundation for playing guitar solos.
In this book, you will learn to understand:
How to read music notation easily
The 12 bar blues progression
All 5 pentatonic scale box patterns
Where to play these in different keys
Make the scales sound like guitar solos
Reading diagrams for increased music knowledge
How to build self-confidence through a better understanding
And much, much, more. This book (and volume 2) is packed with great information to take your guitar playing to the next level. With step-by-step lesson plans that easily build upon each other for quick learning and fast results. This is how I would teach you in person. So if we can’t do that, I recommend this as the next best thing.
Never play out of key
Never play out of key again, never have your ear or anyone else for that matter cringe again when you play a bad note. With this in-depth training, you’ll be able to play with confidence and know that you are going to play notes that are in harmony with the rhythm that you are soloing over and they are going to be pleasant to listen to.
Of course, you will need to study and practice on a consistent basis in order to accomplish this. But if you do, you will learn new skill sets, build confidence in your abilities and build a solid foundation. You could even become a lead guitar wizard!
Lesson conclusion
Once you have pentatonic scale box patterns 1 and 2 down, proceed to learn pentatonic scale box pattern 3. This will allow you to increase your fretboard knowledge and enhance your guitar solo creativity.
And remember:
The pentatonic scales are the best place to start for playing solos
Learn all 5 scale box patterns from one-octave to the next
Connect them together like puzzle pieces along the fretboard
Bring them to life with hammer-ons, pull-offs, bends, etc
Remember their shapes by practicing them daily
Play over backing tracks to get a full understanding of how they work
Do all this and I guarantee you that you will start seeing progress in your guitar solos. If you’ve ever wanted to be a lead guitar player, this is the place to start. And if you haven’t already, grab my FREE action-guide “Guitar Solo Secrets” to give you a head start on your lead guitar playing..
Best of luck. Contact me if you need additional help and follow me on Social media.
Until our next lesson, take care.
Dwayne 🙂
How To Use Pentatonic Scale Box Pattern 2 For Your Guitar Solos