Lead Guitar in Any Key!

 

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This quick and easy tutorial will show you the fastest and most efficient way to improvise in any major or minor key, using movable pentatonic scale patterns on the low E string and A string. The following 4 scenarios give you the flexibility to quickly find and successfully play in any major or minor key:

♫ Minor key on the E string
♫ Major key on the E string
♫ Minor key on the A string
♫ Major key on the A string

 
When you have mastered this simple system using these 2 pentatonic scale patterns, you can apply the same logic to the blues scale, diatonic scale, and harmonic minor scale depending on the musical style or vibe you’re going for.

Step 1: Find your note
This method relies on being able to find any note on the low E string or A string. Simply count up the string from the open note (E, or A) until you get to the note you’re looking for. The instructions will show you exactly how to do this.

Step 2: Place the Scale Pattern
Once you have successfully found your note on the low E or A string, simply slide the relevant scale pattern to that note. If you are playing a minor scale, place your index (pointer finger) on that note (shown by the yellow note on the scale diagram). If you are playing a major scale, place your pinky on that note (the orange note on the scale diagram). The guide includes both scale charts and instructions on how to use them.

 

Guitarist Miles Pearce has studied classical, jazz, folk and popular styles, Hindustani classical music, flamenco, Brazilian samba, Argentine tango, South Indian Karnatic vocal music, West African rhythms, composition, music theory, ethnomusicology, and experimental music. He eventually earned a B.A. in Music from Wesleyan University.
Miles has studied with jazz guitar virtuoso Tony Lombardozzi, free jazz pioneer Anthony Braxton, master Ghanaian drummer Abraham Adzenyah, had the honor of studying Karnatic music with the late T. Viswanathan, studied Classical Indian rhythms and ragas with mandolinist Emu Desai, flamenco guitar and Brazilian samba with Brazilian guitar virtuoso Humberto Oliviera Sáles, flamenco guitar with the legendary Colombian guitarist Juan Benavides, ethnomusicology and African fingerstyle guitar with Eric Charry, ethnomusicology with Mark Slobin, composition with Neely Bruce, music theory with Yonatin Malin, and classical guitar with Will Martin
 

 

♫ Download my free guide and learn how to take a great solo in any major or minor key:

I value your privacy and you can unsubscribe anytime.