Guitar Theory and Learning Guitar Scales: Pentatonic Scale

United States of America (Press Release) August 27, 2007 -- How to learn guitar scales:

* 99% of popular music is Pentatonic and Major scales.
* Scales aren't just for playing guitar solos.
* Rhythm guitar players can benefit from scales too.

Guitar players don't need to learn many scales.
Guitar players need to learn the theory behind all the different ways of playing and applying the Pentatonic and Major scales. When a player learns guitar scale theory properly, they'll have 99% of the music they listen to covered. That's the truth! If a guitarist wants to explore additional guitar theory and more obscure scales later, then they'll have the proper music theory foundation to do it.

Guitar Pentatonic Scale Patterns
The pentatonic scale produces the simplest patterns on the guitar fretboard and the theory behind it makes it easy to apply. Guitarists use the pentatonic scale boxes to play melodies, riffs, lead guitar solos and bass lines. All styles of popular music utilize this important guitar scale including pop, rock, blues, country and jazz. Some famous songs that utilize the pentatonic scale, and make great material for any guitar theory study program, include:

“Lowrider” War (G minor pentatonic scale)
“Lady Marmalade” Patti LaBelle (G minor pentatonic scale)
“Susie Q” Creedence Clearwater Revival (E minor pentatonic scale)
“My Girl” The Temptations (C major pentatonic scale)
“Wish You Were Here” Pink Floyd (G major pentatonic scale)
“Tweezer” Phish (A minor pentatonic scale)
“Purple Haze” Jimi Hendrix (E minor pentatonic scale)
“Breakdown” Tom Petty (A minor pentatonic scale)
“Pawn Shop” Sublime (E minor pentatonic scale)
“Turn Off the Light” Nelly Furtado (E minor pentatonic scale)
“Honky Tonk Women” The Rolling Stones (G major pentatonic scale)
“Hey Joe” Jimi Hendrix (E minor pentatonic scale)
“Yellow Ledbetter” Pearl Jam (E major pentatonic scale)
“Sunshine of Your Love” Cream (D minor pentatonic "blues scale")
“Baby Please Don’t Go” Them/Van Morrison (F minor pentatonic "blues scale")
“Iron Man” Black Sabbath (B minor pentatonic "blues scale")
“Roadhouse Blues” The Doors (E minor pentatonic "blues scale")
“Heartbreaker” Led Zeppelin (A minor pentatonic "blues scale")
“Maggie May” Rod Stewart (D major pentatonic scale)
“Sir Duke” Stevie Wonder (B major pentatonic "blues scale")

Pentatonic Scale Theory and Rhythm Guitar
The purpose of learning how to apply the pentatonic scale, or any scale for that matter, isn't solely for playing guitar riffs and solos. Even rhythm guitar players can study guitar theory and make good use of occasional scale phrases. Guitar theory teaches that pentatonic scale notes can be added to old chords and create rich new sounds.

Using Music Theory to Compose On the Guitar
There's one more thing about applying the pentatonic scale all serious guitarists should take into consideration. The pentatonic scale isn't a scale unique to only guitar and bass players. All instruments utilize music theory and the pentatonic scale including voices. Many songs have pentatonic scale vocal melodies, keyboard parts, horn parts and more. These things can be worked out and arranged on guitar.

Play until your fingers bleed!