The minor pentatonic scale
Build and play the minor pentatonic and see its link with the major pentatonic.
The minor pentatonic is the most played scale in rock and blues. It is also the major pentatonic in disguise.
Five notes again
The minor pentatonic is the natural minor scale without its 2nd and 6th: 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7. A minor pentatonic is A C D E G. Its pattern is (W+H) – W – W – (W+H) – W, that is 3-2-2-3-2 frets.
It contains the same notes as the major pentatonic of its relative major: A minor pentatonic is C major pentatonic, starting from A. The same is true for every relative pair.
The one-octave shape
With the root on the E or A string and the 1st finger on the root, from a root at fret f: on the root string, 1 and ♭3 (frets f and f+3); on the next string up, 4 and 5 (frets f and f+2); on the next string up, ♭7 and 8 (frets f and f+2).
How to use it
Over minor chords it fits fully. In blues and rock it is also played over dominant 7th chords. Its ♭3 against the chord’s major 3rd is part of the bluesy sound. For a bass line, use the ♭3 as a passing note moving to the 3rd or the root, not as a held note on a strong beat.
Play A minor pentatonic from fret 5 on the E string. Then play the same notes starting and ending on C. Hear the change from minor to major.