C Form Pentatonic Practice

Slow:

Fast:

Always do the following when practicing any scale:

• Start and End on the lowest root note in the scale.  It is important for our ear to hear the scale start and end on the root note.  If we don’t do this we are learning to hear the scale incorrectly.

* The root will often not be the lowest note in the pattern.  In the above example the lowest root note is D at the 5th fret on the A string , but  the lowest note is actually F# on the 2nd fret of the low E string.

• Start and end always on either beats 1 or 3.  This makes the scale end on a strong beat.  This is also where chords most often change making it a good place to practice completing a musical phrase.

*Notice how the 2nd to last note in the example above adds an E note for the purpose of pushing the exercise so it ends on beat 1.

• Play all roots at the end.  It is important to know where the roots are.  They can help you in finding and locating your scale patterns.
• Use a metronome or a drum groove to play along with.  Solid rhythm is the most important thing to have as a musician.  If you’re making a lot of mistakes slow your tempo down until your accuracy is almost flawless.
• Use alternate strokes.  Downs on the downbeats and ups on the off beats.

*Learning quickly and efficiently is more about accuracy than speed, so slow down and have patience!!!