Difference Between Pentatonic & Major Scales For Guitar

[DesiSerna]

If the pentatonic scale pattern is built inside the
major scale pattern, what's the point of learning the
pentatonic? If you learn the major scale, you
automatically learn also the pentatonic, right?

This is a great question about learning guitar scales. I could add to it, "If all scales are derived from the chromatic scale, what's the point of learning anything else? If you learn every chromatic note on the guitar fretboard, you're touching on any and all types of scales."

Of course, is doesn't work this way. Guitar scales make unique patterns on the fretboard. If you want to create pentatonic sounds, you must know which major scale notes to skip over, hence pentatonic scale patterns.

Since the pentatonic scale notes alone are so widely used for melodies, riffs, solos and bass lines, it's critical for guitar players to map out and learn just these notes on the neck. It's also critical for players to learn how to execute techniques such as hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides and bends with the special two-notes-per-string pentatonic patterns.

[galen11]

desi.

thanks for taking the time to reply.
if i get you right what i need to do then is play almost all minor pentatonic & major pentatonic scales back ward and forward with numerous songs and after i'm completely comfortable with this knowledge then press forward no matter how long it takes.
which is fine with me, i'm just so tired and so broke learning, and re-learning. i'm almost 40 years at this
your system sounds the best i've ever seen at least it's understandable i just have to get to work
so ok thats it then i'm gonna get with the songs you listed even more.

thank you galen

[DesiSerna]

Right Galen. I think you have all the guitar instruction you need. Now you just have to do the work and complete the steps.

[galen11]

well i'v been playing suzie q and play that funky music white boy & recognize the e minor pentatonic scale and how they are using it, and i'm workin on no woman no cry.
i'll make the jam track and like you said do the work

thanks again for everything
galen

[Blamm]

Desi -

I was going to start a new topic, but it seemed Galen's topic was a better starting point.

I get why we are learning the pentatonic and major scales separately, but what I don't understand is why you've numbered the patterns differently. Since pattern 2 of the pentatonic is inside of pattern 1 of the major, wouldn't it be easier for us newbies to remember if they were both called pattern 1? I figure you have a reason for this, so I'm just curious what it is.

Thanks!!

- John

(On a side note, I've learned more in the past month than I have in the last 15 years. It's all clicking for me thanks to your lessons.)

[iseker]

Major scale contains major pentatonic scale and minor scale contains minor pentatonic scale.