1. Minor pentatonic diagonally up (and down) the neck.
Pattern 2 in A.
This means slide.
Root Notes
So…learning where the notes are in the minor pentatonic is one thing.
Congratulations, you can play the pattern from the lowest note to the highest, and
hopefully, back down. That’s cool but its like learning the alphabet. You know the
whole thing but write it down (play it), its nonsensical even though everybody
knows what it is. (Try to pronounce the alphabet…)
So…in order for it to make sense, break it down into phrases (think sentences)
and play those. Try sliding into or out of the notes. Start with two or three notes,
rearrange them, slow it down. The secret to getting faster is to slow down. Bend
the note. Use vibrato. Eat cookies. Remember to practise the above both ways,
up and down the fretboard. Use two fingers.
Here is where the root notes come in. The root notes ‘anchor’ you to the song.
Think of it as “home” In this case all of the root notes are ‘A’ … (duhhhh). Try
making a statement with two to three notes then ending the next phrase on the
closest root. Experiment, you will find something you like. Then take that same
phrase and play it the same way in a different part of the track. Sounds different
huh? That’s another lesson, before that though, we’ll join the two patterns.
shawn