Best Minor Pentatonic Exercise
Using mini boxes.
I wish I had a nickel for every student I have ever instructed, who has asked me, “How do I make my minor pentatonic scales sound more interesting?” Honestly, I could have retired years ago. It all comes down to playing, learning and memorizing scale shapes, endless ear training, endless thousands of hours of practicing, and of course understanding what it is you are actually playing - well enough that you could teach it.
“Don’t practice until you get it right. Practice until you can’t get it wrong.”
The following five exercises cover all five “minor” pentatonic shapes; all within the same area of the fretboard - (between frets 4 and 8.)
Each exercise has an accompanying audio track for you can practice/play along with each exercise.
The playback tempo is set at 90bpm. If this is too fast, set your own metronome to a slower speed, somewhere between 70-80bpm.
Alternate your picking!
Remember what it is you are reading. These are “eighth notes”, not quarter notes. That means you do what? You alternate your picking! Do not play this exercise as quarter notes. Coordinating your fret fingers with your picking hand is huge part of this exercise.
My thanks to my long time friend, bandmate and fellow guitar instructor,
Mike Walker, for showing me this exercise many years ago.
A minor pentatonic
F# minor pentatonic
E minor pentatonic
D minor pentatonic
B minor pentatonic
Thank you for reading SoundHole Guitar. This is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.