5 Ways To Upgrade Your Pentatonic Licks

Pentatonic scales – we all love them, we all use them all the time.
But what if I told you that there are ways to completely transform the way you approach them?

In this blog post, I’m going to show you a few tips and tricks
to take your pentatonic playing to the next level.

• Learn all five positions
  The first step is to know all five positions of the pentatonic scale.
  Once you know these positions, practice playing through each one. Get comfortable with the fingerings and the sound of each position.
  
• Experiment with note groupings
  Instead of playing two notes per string, try playing three notes on one string, followed by one note on the next string, then three notes on the next string, and so on. This will give you a different sound and feel when playing the pentatonic scale.
  
• Make sure to practice this with each position of the scale.
  This will help you develop a deeper understanding of the scale and its possibilities.
  
• Add chromatic notes
  Another way to spice up your pentatonic playing is to add chromatic notes.
  One common way to do this is to add a chromatic note between the fourth and fifth notes of the scale. This creates what’s called a blues scale.
  
• Explore different modes
  The pentatonic scale is often used in a minor context.
  But what if you want to explore other modes? One mode you can try is the Dorian mode.
  To play in Dorian mode, you simply add a 2nd and 6th to the pentatonic scale.
  – Another mode you can try is the melodic minor scale. To play in melodic minor, you add a major seventh note to the pentatonic scale.
  
• Try experimenting with chromatic enclosures
  for example, play a chromatic note above or below a note in the pentatonic scale to create a leading tone effect.

By exploring different ways to play the scale, you can open up new possibilities for your playing.
So go ahead and experiment with these tips and tricks,
and see where your musical journey takes you!