Major Pentatonic Scale Positions

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The notes of the major pentatonic scale can be found everywhere on the neck of the bass guitar. Therefor, there are positions to help you remember where the notes are. 

Below is a graphic showing what the pentatonic scale positions looks like on the bass guitar. The green colour is the root note. So, you simply need to find the root note for the key signature you are playing in and start the scale from there.

Position 2 starts on the second note of position 1; position 3 starts on the second note of position 2, etc. Each position is connected with the following one, position 5 being connected with position 1. 

Major Pentatonic Scale Positions (Bass)

To remember all those positions, practice them individually going up and down. Once you feel comfortable with each of them, try to combine them to help you remember them and understand how to use them in solos. You can go up one position, then down the next position. Be creative!

You can try to practice improvising using this blues track below. The Blues is in E, so use E major Pentatonic.

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

Minor Pentatonic Scale Positions

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The notes of the minor pentatonic scale can be found everywhere on the neck of the bass guitar. Therefor, there are positions to help you remember where the notes are. 

Below is a graphic showing what the pentatonic scale positions looks like on the bass guitar. The green colour is the root note. So, you simply need to find the root note for the key signature you are playing in and start the scale from there.

Position 2 starts on the second note of position 1; position 3 starts on the second note of position 2, etc. Each position is connected with the following one, position 5 being connected with position 1. 

Minor Pentatonic Scale Positions (Bass)

To remember all those positions, practice them individually going up and down. Once you feel comfortable with each of them, try to combine them to help you remember them and understand how to use them in solos. You can go up one position, then down the next position. Be creative!

You can try to practice improvising using this blues track below. The Blues is in E, so use E minor Pentatonic.

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

Major Pentatonic Scale Positions

Donate

The notes of the major pentatonic scale can be found everywhere on the neck of the guitar. Therefor, there are positions to help you remember where the notes are. 

Below is a graphic showing what the pentatonic scale positions looks like on the guitar. The green colour is the root note. So, you simply need to find the root note for the key signature you are playing in and start the scale from there.

Position 2 starts on the second note of position 1; position 3 starts on the second note of position 2, etc. Each position is connected with the following one, position 5 being connected with position 1. 

Major Pentatonic Scale Positions

To remember all those positions, practice them individually going up and down. Once you feel comfortable with each of them, try to combine them to help you remember them and understand how to use them in solos. You can go up one position, then down the next position. Be creative!

You can try to practice improvising using this blues track below. The Blues is in E, so use E major Pentatonic.

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

Minor Pentatonic Scale Positions

Donate

The notes of the minor pentatonic scale can be found everywhere on the neck of the guitar. Therefor, there are positions to help you remember where the notes are. 

Below is a graphic showing what the pentatonic scale positions looks like on the guitar. The green colour is the root note. So, you simply need to find the root note for the key signature you are playing in and start the scale from there.

Position 2 starts on the second note of position 1; position 3 starts on the second note of position 2, etc. Each position is connected with the following one, position 5 being connected with position 1. 

Minor Pentatonic Scale Positions

To remember all those positions, practice them individually going up and down. Once you feel comfortable with each of them, try to combine them to help you remember them and understand how to use them in solos. You can go up one position, then down the next position. Be creative!

You can try to practice improvising using this blues track below. The Blues is in E, so use E minor Pentatonic.

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

Major Pentatonic Scale

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The major pentatonic scale is as useful a scale as the minor pentatonic. Just like it's counter part, the major pentatonic is made of five notes that work well on genres from Blues, Rock 'n' Roll to jazz, pop, etc. 

The major pentatonic scale is made of: Root (1), second (2), major third (3), fifth (5) and major sixth (6). So, if you were in the key of C, the notes would be: C, D, E, G, A

Below is a graphic showing what the pentatonic scale looks like on the ukulele. The green colour is the root note. So, you simply need to find the root note for the key signature you are playing in and start the scale from there.

Major Pentatonic Scale (Ukulele)

This scale is used to improvise solos, create riffs and melodies. The best way to work this scale is to practice playing going up and down the scale in different keys, so that your fingers get used to it. Once you are comfortable with it, you can start improvising with it, playing the notes of the scale with a rhythm and order of your choice. You can try to practice improvising using this blues track below. The Blues is in E, so use E major Pentatonic.

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

Major Pentatonic Scale

Donate

The major pentatonic scale is as useful a scale as the minor pentatonic. Just like it's counter part, the major pentatonic is made of five notes that work well on genres from Blues, Rock 'n' Roll to jazz, pop, etc. 

The major pentatonic scale is made of: Root (1), second (2), major third (3), fifth (5) and major sixth (6). So, if you were in the key of C, the notes would be: C, D, E, G, A

Below is a graphic showing what the pentatonic scale looks like on the bass guitar. The green colour is the root note. So, you simply need to find the root note for the key signature you are playing in and start the scale from there.

Major Pentatonic Scale (Bass Guitar)

This scale is used to improvise solos, create riffs and melodies. The best way to work this scale is to practice playing going up and down the scale in different keys, so that your fingers get used to it. Once you are comfortable with it, you can start improvising with it, playing the notes of the scale with a rhythm and order of your choice. You can try to practice improvising using this blues track below. The Blues is in E, so use E major Pentatonic.

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

Major Pentatonic Scale

Donate

The major pentatonic scale is as useful a scale as the minor pentatonic. Just like it's counter part, the major pentatonic is made of five notes that work well on genres from Blues, Rock 'n' Roll to jazz, pop, etc. 

The major pentatonic scale is made of: Root (1), second (2), major third (3), fifth (5) and major sixth (6). So, if you were in the key of C, the notes would be: C, D, E, G, A

Below is a graphic showing what the pentatonic scale looks like on the guitar. The green colour is the root note. So, you simply need to find the root note for the key signature you are playing in and start the scale from there.

Major Pentatonic Scale (Guitar)

This scale is used to improvise solos, create riffs and melodies. The best way to work this scale is to practice playing going up and down the scale in different keys, so that your fingers get used to it. Once you are comfortable with it, you can start improvising with it, playing the notes of the scale with a rhythm and order of your choice. You can try to practice improvising using this blues track below. The Blues is in E, so use E major Pentatonic.

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

Minor Pentatonic Scale

Donate

The Pentatonic scale is probably the most useful scale in almost any genre. It is one of the first scale taught and one of the last one you'll use. Penta meaning 5 and tonic meaning tone or note; the scale has only five notes, compared to most scales that have seven notes. 

The minor pentatonic notes are: root (1), minor third (3m), fourth (4), fifth (5) and minor seventh (7m). So, if you were in the key of C it would mean: C, Eb, F, G, Bb

Below is a graphic showing what the pentatonic scale looks like on the ukulele. The green colour is the root note. So, you simply need to find the root note for the key signature you are playing in and start the scale from there.

Minor Pentatonic Scale (Ukulele)

This scale is used to improvise solos on different genres or to create riffs and melodies. The best way to work this scale is to practice playing going up and down the scale in different keys, so that your fingers get used to it. Once you are comfortable with it, you can start improvising with it, playing the notes with a rhythm and order of your choice. You can try to practice improvising using this blues track below. The Blues is in E, so use E minor Pentatonic.

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

Minor Pentatonic Scale

Donate

The Pentatonic scale is probably the most useful scale in almost any genre. It is one of the first scale taught and one of the last one you'll use. Penta meaning 5 and tonic meaning tone or note; the scale has only five notes, compared to most scales that have seven notes. 

The minor pentatonic notes are: root (1), minor third (3m), fourth (4), fifth (5) and minor seventh (7m). So, if you were in the key of C it would mean: C, Eb, F, G, Bb

Below is a graphic showing what the pentatonic scale looks like on the bass guitar. The green colour is the root note. So, you simply need to find the root note for the key signature you are playing in and start the scale from there.

Minor Pentatonic Scale (Bass guitar)

This scale is used to improvise solos on different genres or to create riffs and melodies. The best way to work this scale is to practice playing going up and down the scale in different keys, so that your fingers get used to it. Once you are comfortable with it, you can start improvising with it, playing the notes with a rhythm and order of your choice. You can try to practice improvising using this blues track below. The Blues is in E, so use E minor Pentatonic.

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

Minor Pentatonic Scale

Donate

The Pentatonic scale is probably the most useful scale in almost any genre. It is one of the first scale taught and one of the last one you'll use. Penta meaning 5 and tonic meaning tone or note; the scale has only five notes, compared to most scales that have seven notes. 

The minor pentatonic notes are: root (1), minor third (3m), fourth (4), fifth (5) and minor seventh (7m). So, if you were in the key of C it would mean: C, Eb, F, G, Bb

Below is a graphic showing what the pentatonic scale looks like on the guitar. The green colour is the root note. So, you simply need to find the root note for the key signature you are playing in and start the scale from there.

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Minor Pentatonic Scale Guitar

This scale is used to improvise solos on different genres or to create riffs and melodies. The best way to work this scale is to practice playing going up and down the scale in different keys, so that your fingers get used to it. Once you are comfortable with it, you can start improvising with it, playing the notes with a rhythm and order of your choice. You can try to practice improvising using this blues track below. The Blues is in E, so use E minor Pentatonic.

We hope you enjoyed this lesson. If you have any questions or comments you can contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

Basic Chord Chart

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Here is a basic chord chart for Ukulele. There is only one barre chord (chord of E), meaning that one of your fingers will be playing more than one string; to do that you simply need to flattened your finger, so that it presses on both strings at one. 

The numbers in the circles are the fingers used for those notes. These fingers are suggestions only, as depending on the shape and size of your fingers, you might need to use different fingers. Make sure that you are comfortable and try to change the position of your thumb behind the neck of the ukulele if you feel tension in your arm/wrist. The green colour indicates the root note in your chord.

Ukulele Basic Chord Chart

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

Blues Turnaround

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This lesson is all about classic blues turnaround in the key of E. A turnaround is usually played on the last two measures of a Blues form. It is called the turnaround, because it brings you back to the beginning of the song. Turnarounds can also be used to start a song, which is what the first exercises focuses on.

Blues Form Turnaround

This turnaround #1 shows one of the most classic turnarounds. 

Turnaround #1

Turnaround #2 shows a classic variation of a blues turnaround.

Turnaround #2

Turnaround #3 is another variation of the classics.

Turnaround #3

The next two examples are full blues form starting with a turnaround and finishing with a turnaround.

This first example uses the turnaround #1 that we worked on above in a blues form.

This second example uses the turnaround #2 that we used above in a blues form.

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

Open Chord Chart

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Here is an open chord chart for guitar. Open chords mean that there is at least one string that is played open. The green colour notes are the root note of the chords. The red colour with an X mean that you don't play that string. The numbers in the circles are the fingers that you use for those notes. The fingers used are a suggestion only; depending on the size and shape of your fingers, you might find that using different fingers works better for you. Also, depending on which chord comes before or after a certain chord, you might find that using a different combination works better.

Open Chord Chart

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

E Blues Bass Basics

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When playing the blues on bass, just like with any other instrument, you play it with a basic blues  form which we discussed in Basic Blues Theory. Below is the E Blues form that we will be using for all the exercises for this lesson.

E Blues Form

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E Blues Form Exercise #1

This first exercise is simply to play the root note of every chord for this E blues form with a whole note, so one note per measure like the example below.

E Blues Form Whole Notes

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E Blues Form Exercise #2

This exercise is the same as exercise #1, but you'll play half notes, so two notes per measure.

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E Blues Form Exercise #3

This exercise is the same as exercise #1, but this time with quarter notes, so four notes per measure. You should try to play this one with one finger the first time; the second time, try to alternate between your 1st finger (index) and your 2nd finger (middle).

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E Blues Form Exercise #4

This Exercise is a typical blues walking bass line. Walking bass refers to your fingers that look like they are walking on the bass. In this exercise we use patterns that will be repeated on every chord of E, then a very similar pattern every chord of A, then a bit of a change for the chord of B.

E Blues Walking Bass #1

On the chord of E, try to use your 3rd finger for the 4th fret and your 1st finger for the 2 fret. Use the same fingers for the corresponding notes for the chord of A. For the chord of B, start the pattern with your 2nd finger, then 1st finger for the 1st fret, and 4th finger for the 4th fret.

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E Blues Form Exercise #5

This blues walking bass is a variation of the exercise #4. It is a two measure pattern, which means that you can only use it when you have two measures with the same chord next to the other.

E Blues Walking Bass #2

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E Blues Form Exercise #6

This exercise is the same as exercise #5, but you play eighth notes swing throughout the blues form. Alternate your plucking fingers, between your 1st and 2nd finger.

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

Guitar Tuner Drop D

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This is a guitar tuner for a drop D tuning, which is used in a lot of genres ranging from classical, to country to metal. It is a standard E tuning with the low E string dropped to a D, therefor its name drop D.

Guitar Tuner Standard E

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Here is a guitar tuner for the E Standard tuning, which is the most commonly used tuning. The low E string (6th string) is the closest to the ceiling, so the biggest one. The high E string (1st string) is the closest to the floor, so the smallest one.

Basic Blues Theory

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Blues Rhythm Basics

Blues has influenced the music industry more than any genre nowadays. You can hear its influence in almost every song you hear these days. Therefor, it is essential to have a good knowledge of it.

Triplet Feel

Blues is usually played in a swing feel, which means that each beat is divided into three equal eight notes and you only play the first and third eight note per beat.

Blues Form

Below is a standard 12 measure blues form. If you ever want to play blues with a friend, you'll need to understand this graphic, so that you can play the blues in any key you wish. As you may notice, the numbers below are written in roman numerals which is very common in music to describe a chord within a scale. In a major scale there are 7 notes and each chord created from these notes bears a roman numeral that represents it. 

I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii

The upper case numbers represent major chords and the lower case numbers represent minor chords. For the blues, all that we will be using are the three major chords: I, IV, V

Blues Form

In the example below, the roman numerals were replaced by the name of the chords that will be played in each measure in the key of E major. In the key of E major, the chords are usually E, F#m, G#m, A, B, C#m, B#m(b5). As mentioned above, the only chords used for the blues are the major chords or upper case roman numerals, so in this case E, A and B.

E Blues Form

Bass Tuner Standard E

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Here is a bass tuner in standard E tuning: E, A, D, G. That is the usual tuning for any type of bass guitar. The string #4 is the biggest one, but also the closest to the ceiling. The string #1 is that smallest one and the closest to the floor.

Electric Guitar Parts

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When playing guitar, it is important to know the parts on your guitar.

Electric Guitar Parts

Tuning Pegs: Used to tune the guitar.

Nut: Where your strings converge together.

Fret Wire: The metal pieces on the neck of the guitar. 

Fret: Between the fret wires, they are where you place your fingers to create sounds.

Markers: They help you remember where the notes are on the guitar, because notes are at different places on each strings.

Guitar Strap Holder: It is where you put your strap to play standing up.

Bridge: It is where you put your hand to palm mute your notes.

Pick Up: They are electro magnets that pick up the sound of your strings and send the signal to the amplifier

Pick Guard: It is there to protect the finish of your guitar, so that you don't scratch it.

Pick Up Selector: It is used to switch pick ups; it changes the sound of your guitar when plugged into an amplifier.

Volume Knob: It is used to change the amount of signal sent to the amplifier. If you have distortion in your sound, reducing the volume on your guitar will reduce the amount of distortion.

Tone Knob: It changes the brightness of your sound.

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com

Reading Tablature

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Tablature, also called tabs, is the easiest way to read music for instruments like guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, mandolin, etc. It is easier than reading the treble clef, because it relates to the instruments better. Treble clef is easy to read on piano, because each note on the staff relates to a note on the piano. On the guitar on the other hand, each note on the staff relates to several of the same notes on different strings. Also, certain techniques on the guitar do not relate well on a staff.

Therefor, below is an example of a measure in tablature. 

If you have any questions, please contact us at patrice@paliatsky.com