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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Pentatonic Diagonal Runs

Posted by: steve25 Mar 13 2009, 12:55 AM

Been meaning to post this for a while but better late than never i guess. From what i remember from the pentatonic lessons that kris did, he did a lesson on this sort of stuff but i don't think he did it exactly like this. So this is really designed for the absolute beginner to this type of playing.

Ok so for those of you who want to get started on diagonal pentatonic runs this might help you. We are basing our runs more on finger patterns as opposed to remembering where each note in the scale is, this way i found it easier to start with. So lets say we are in the scale of A-minor, so picked because most people start on this scale and you have the A-minor pentatonic scale in mind. Have a look at these and let me know if it's any help:

Pick up your guitar and follow along, starting on the 3rd from of the low E what we will be doing is a pattern of what i call, 1-2, 1-2-2. What this means is (this is made up by the way) is you are playing 2 notes on the low string then going to the next and playing 3. Each time however you are moving up 2 frets (hence the 1-2-2, the 1 being the starting fret and the 2 the amount you up by). So if you start on the 3rd fret of the low E you will play the following

E-----------------
B-----------------
G-----------------
D-----------------
A--------3--5--7--
E--3--5-----------

The important thing to remember here is to remember the finger pattern you play, 1-2, 1-2-2. Now moving up to the D string we are now starting on the 5th fret, the next position up. From here we can now play the exact same pattern we just played on the first position (1-2, 1-2-2). Now you'll notice if you move up to the next position again the pattern will once again be the same. Here are all positions starting from the 3rd from on the E:

E-----------------
B-----------------
G-----------------
D-----------------
A--------3--5--7--
E--3--5-----------

E-------------------
B-------------------
G--------5--7--9----
D--5--7-------------
A-------------------
E-------------------

E---------8--10--12-----
B--8--10----------------
G-----------------------
D-----------------------
A-----------------------
E-----------------------

You see the pattern? It's the same throughout. For those of you who have already discovered it good job hopefully it's easier for you but for the beginners it might not be so obvious. Now what about starting at a different fret? Well the same idea applies however the pattern is different. For example starting on the 5th fret gives the pattern 1-3, 1-2-3 and it remains as this pattern all the way until you switch starting fret or note or position whichever you like to call it. Now i've shown you 2, go and work out the other 3 and see if you can use this in your practicing to get started with this kind of thing. Hope it has helped comments appreciated .

Posted by: djohnneay Mar 13 2009, 02:25 PM

This seems really helpful, haven't been able to read it all yet, but Im surely gonna try this when I'm done studying today.
Thanks alot for this info !

Well, back to study for now....

Posted by: Vasilije Vukmirovic Mar 13 2009, 02:40 PM

I like this kind of stuff, though playing any scale patterns diagonally is pretty difficult you have to known fretboard very well, but, sometimes when you can't play it vertically, it's only solution.

Posted by: steve25 Mar 14 2009, 01:00 AM

Glad you like it and i hope you find it useful

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Mar 14 2009, 02:27 AM

Very useful information. I love playing trough guitar neck, it unlocks a lot of possibilities when improvising and making music.
One thing in particular that might be useful for everybody getting into this system and approach is - try to play your lines and licks in 3 octaves ! This will unlock your guitar neck and positions like nothing else. I use this approach all the time and it does wonders

Posted by: jdriver Mar 14 2009, 04:28 AM

You can do this with diatonic Major and Minor (Ionian, Aeolean). Play the first 2 stings of the pattern, slide down a whole step with your pinky, continue on next 2 strings.(adjust at G string)... 3 octaves, presto! The cool part is works from any note you want to play, if you have room to go somewhere.

I'm too lazy to tab it out, but it's the most exciting thing my teacher has shown me.