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I already know the major pentatonic scale and how to transpose it to different keys, so i figured i should learn the minor pentatonic as well. So i watched the lesson “The Ultimate Guide to the Pentatonic Scales – EP436”. But i don’t understand how to transpose the scale? He shows the 3 positions for A-minor pentatonic, but how do i transpose it to a different key? For the major pentatonic you choose the second note in the first position to know where to play the second position, but how do you do it with the minor pentatonic? Is it the same? Please help me figure this out.
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Hola, Ola! Yes indeed, once you know the relative positions of either the major or minor pent scales, you are finished with the hard part. Here’s a simple tip to tell what scale you are using, so you owe me lunch for this.
In 1st position:
For minor pent, the first note you play on the low E string with your index finger is the key of your scale.
For major pent, the second note you play on the low E string with your little finger is the key of your scale.
So to play A minor pent, put your index finger on the 5th fret and start from there. To play B minor pent, move your finger up 2 frets and start from there. Etc etc. Your index finger points to the key.
To play A major pent, put your little finger on the 5th fret and start from there.
Another way: John Mayer talks about the “pentatonic equator”, which is the fret that gets barred in any 1st position. So in A minor pent, the pentatonic equator is the 5th fret. To get to A major pent, just move the pentatonic equator down 3 frets.
Sunjamr Steve
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Hi Steve, newbie question here and I hope Ola doesn’t mind me asking it here, but when you say up and down the frets, is up in the direction of the the bridge and down in the direction of the nut? I’m interpreting it that way. Still in those stages unfortunately! lol
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Ola,
As Brian stated in the video, there are actually 5 positions for the major or minor pentatonic, ie. one position for each note of the scale. Each position contains the exact same 5 notes, so you can make a lot of music out of any one position without learning all 5 positions at once. I think that’s why Brian is trying to limit this to 3 positions for now.
Usually we all start with position 1 as Steve pointed out above. It is critical to learn where the root notes are within the position. To change keys you just move the root note to the root of the new key but the scale shape remains the same.
If you later go on to learn the root octave pattern all over the neck, ie. how all the A notes relate to each other, you will see how all 5 positions of the major or minor pentatonic are formed around those roots. That is part of the key to understanding the fretboard.
If we are confusing you please don’t be afraid to say so. I can remember how confusing it was to relate the minor and major pentatonics of a given key at your stage.
John-
Hi, thanks so much for answering me. Yes, i am a little confused, but i have a theory and it would help to have it confirmed or denied and explained why. For example, i know how to find all the 5 positions of the major pentatonic in any key by looking at the first position. If i play a song i A the first note on the low 6th string is an A, and that’s where i start the 1st position. Now to find the 2nd position i simple play the 2nd note in the 1st position, and that note is a B, therefore i can start the 2nd position on 7th fret low 6th string, because thats a B. Now to find the 3rd position, i play the 3rd note in the 1st position which is a C#, then i know to start the 3rd position on C# on the low 6th string wich is the 9th fret.
Does this apply to the minor pentatonic as well? Can i find the 4 other positions in the same way? No matter which key?
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Hi Ola,
Yes, that’s right.
For A minor pentatonic, the notes are A, C, D, E, G. For position 1 put your index finger on the A note, 5th fret low E string. Position 2 starts on C at the 8th fret . Position 3 starts on D at the 10th fret. Position 4 starts on E at the 12th fret. Position 5 starts on G at the 15th fret.
For a different key, just start on a different root note and everything shifts.
John-
Thanks, that finally gave me some clarity. You say the 5th position in A minor pentatonic starts on the g in the 15th fret, but I can also play the 5th position on g, 3rd fret right?
One last question, any advice for learning and memorizing all positions for all Keys? Is it simply just practicing scales over and over or do you suggest a different way?-
Yes, good catch, Ola, the other positions are above and below position 1.
As I said before, it helps to learn the octave root pattern across the fretboard and then you can start to look at more keys. Don’t try to learn everything at once, though. The key of A is a good place to start and as you do more and more lessons you’ll start to explore more keys. It takes a good amount of time to assimilate these things.
John -
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HI Ola, As I am more a visual learner, I found learning the CAGED positions (shapes) and how the patterns relate to the root notes off these shapes by using the PDFs attached. And yes as you said, the 5th position (G shape) in A minor pentatonic is on the G 15th fret but there are other G’s in between them, this is where CAGED becomes helpful.
Lesson ep 374 has the 5 chord patterns which gives a visual way of connecting this plus the roots, shapes and major scale in the Key of G. You will see how this works down the fretboard (see ep374 PDF). The root notes are the same whether you use minor or major scales. Attached are 2 PDFS for the CAGED major and minor pattern scales and how they relate with the root notes, the shapes and each other. (These are the traditional)
The next step of transposing the key is knowing the alphabet and that the 6 string which is the same as the first string. Also knowing the steps G to A is 2 frets, A to B 2 frets, B to C one fret, C to D 2 frets, D to E 2 frets, E to F one fret, F to G 2 frets. As you already know G is on the 3rd fret, A will be 5th, B 7th, C 8th etc. So it ia just moving the pattern to match the fret.
It does take time to connect but having a visual resource to help make this connectivity is a good start. I know it did for me.
For practice you will find creative ways to absorb this by doing small steps.
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Was reading through this thread and I’m sorry for resurrecting and old thread…
One thing I noticed is you mentioned you know your major pentatonic. If you know that, you know your minor pentatonic.
The major scale has a relative minor. The relative minor will always be the 6th of the major scale. And since the pentatonic scale uses intervals 1,2,3,5 and 6 of the major scale it’s super quick to find as the last note of the 5 note sequence.
So to simplify things, if you know your major root note, go up the scale say C D E G A. That fifth note will be your root note for the A minor scale. So now instead of starting on the C, start from the A. The pattern is the same, just the note you start from is different.
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