LESSON #599
​Unlock the Fretboard with Diagonal Pentatonics

​Click to Watch Free Video Lesson​

In today's new lesson, I'm excited to tackle a much-asked-about topic that's been a game changer for my playing in the past year: diagonal pentatonics.

This is an informal name I’m using for a particular way to play any pentatonic scale, which allows us to play multiple octaves in an incredibly smooth & fluid manner.

Why this approach is worth learning, compared to memorizing the five "box" shapes normally used with pentatonic scales:

1️⃣ Uses fewer fingers (easier to play)​
2️⃣ Uses fewer "shapes" (easier to remember)​
3️⃣ Spans multiple octaves (more possibilities)​
4️⃣ Uses slides between some notes (sounds better)

Lastly — I find they're far more fun to play! Check out my video lesson and see for yourself.

FOLLOW ALONG
​15 Page Print-Friendly Handbook

To accompany my video lesson, I put together a 15 page PDF handbook covering all the topics in my video lesson — and more! This includes an overall description, some basic exercises for major & minor shapes, and plenty of cheat sheets for you to visualize these scale shapes in different keys, alongside CAGED shapes, and more.

​Get the PDF handbook »​

LEARN BY PLAYING ALONG
​10 New Practice Tracks Also Available

To help you jump in & have fun with these diagonal pentatonic shapes, I made 10 new play-along practice tracks. These include single chord jam tracks — which allow you to slowly practice without worrying about chord changes.

There's also a handful of 12 bar blues jam tracks, which cycle through the familiar twelve-measure progression over and over. Chord changes are shown on screen, so you never get lost.

I made each of these jam tracks in five different keys (C, G, D, A, E) — which let you practice these scale patterns in any particular common key that strikes your fancy.

​View the practice tracks »​

LOOKING FOR MORE?
​Putting Pentatonics to Use

Over my lesson webpage, I link out to several different lessons that pair well with this particular topic. This includes some topical deep-dives (CAGED, scale degrees, reading fretboard diagrams) as well as some song-inspired lessons. Here's a few you might dig:

• ​Learning the Intro Solo to "Wish You Were Here"​
• ​Lead Guitar Improv 101 with "Wagon Wheel"​
• ​Breaking Down the "Amie" Intro Riff​
• ​First Steps with Blues Bends​

As always, I hope you enjoy & find this helpful! A bunch of you have asked about this topic in the last few months, and I'm thrilled to finally have this comprehensive lesson ready to share.

There's plenty more I want to return to on this topic — so if any specific questions to mind after watching my video & reading the handbook, do let me know! Your feedback is always welcome and helps me improve & expand my library of guitar lessons.

✌️ David

Browse all my lessons @ songnotes.net​