How to Play a Pentatonic Scale | Patterns For Soloing Guitar Lesson 

I have been playing guitar for 55 years. Only by ear, I never learned any Theory except very very basic stuff that I just picked up along the way. I haven't told many times I'm a great guitar player, and I just laugh, because I'm a hack. I played great solos but I have no idea what I'm doing or how to make them better. I improvise, I don't plan very much at all. I had a stroke two and a half years ago I lost the use of my left side completely. I have fought hard and got my arm and hand back and I am bound and determined to learn this instrument that I loved all my life. Thank you so very much for these videos. I only have a short amount of time to learn things that I've always wanted to learn, and your channel is helping more than anything I have ever found. I don't understand it yet, but I will

"Doesn't matter. You should be able to do both" I freaking love you Beato!

Best Pentatonic lesson ever. It really opened up the Fretboard for me

This guy is doing stuff no one else is doing on RU-vid. A deep understanding of music theory and an ear for all types and styles of music. This is good stuff

This is the best video on pentatonic scales that I've seen on RU-vid.

During this pandemic, I have picked up a guitar for the 1st time in 33 years, all I've ever known was about 5 basic cowboy chords and Ive always wanted to learn how to solo. Ive been practicing roughly 6-10 hours per day on and off throughout the day and all I could do was the pentatonic shapes when Id try to play to a backing track, this lesson opened up so many doors, thank you for putting this out there man, I have a lot more to absorb from this and at first I thought there is no way my old arthritic shitty hands can move that fast but they're getting there and videos like this really help. I can honestly say that reigniting my guitar passion has definitely made my days worth something lately. I suffer from crippling anxiety and depression and the only thing keeping me happy, focused, and driven is the guitar. It seems so impossible at first and my fingers literally peeled the first week from practicing but I can see some light through the tunnel now and again, its videos like this that really help get through the rough sticking points. Music saves lives.

Many others have said it and now so will I: best lesson on pentatonics on RU-vid. Plus that Gibson LP Junior in TV Yellow! A great way to pass the time in lockdown.

I think Rick is just a great teacher. I’ve been playing for 10ish years and this is the first video I’ve come across in a long time that gave me one of those “ohhhhhh” moments. Thanks Rick, you’re awesome!

So i did it right. I had one guitar instructor when i was like 14. He walked in, taught my brother bass, came to my room, said what do you want? I said blues. He played the clap and yes album then and there, hendrix, and trower. Wrote down pantatonics, showed me chord formulas. Just like you did in this video. Left me on my own to do the details. It worked. Good video. Peace Rick

Thank you so much for your knowledge. I m 70 years old and starting a little later in life. This will help me out of the rutt I seam to be in of not being able to progress. Thank your for the structure of learning to what to and how to practice.

2:00 Ex 1 - Standard Pisicions Individually 5:02 Ex 2 - Posicions Up One Down The Next 6:18 Ex 3 - Vertical Playing On One String 7:10 Ex 4 - Vertical Playing On Two String 8:12 Ex 5 - Vertical Playing On Two String (Reversal) 8:36 Ex 6 - Mixed Run 9:18 Ex 7 - Groupin Notes Thru Positions

I stumbled on this “concept” years ago and it opened the fretboard up for me, suddenly everything made sense. This video just reminded me to revisit this and practice more! Thanks Rick, you make things fun. p.s. Anyone who wants to play well, study this inside out until you can do it in your sleep!

Rick, you've just become my guitar idol. I've learned more from this video than the last 10 years of fucking around by myself. Thank you

Been playing for almost 40 years...took lessons for a couple of years from an old jazz player when I first started, but never really practiced anything after that.. other than learning songs. This is a great video on not only the pentatonic scale, but also how to approach practicing and then applying the patterns in a creative way for soloing. Thanks for putting this video out there for us...great stuff as always!

This lesson has changed my life. Specially those high strings exercises.

I've been looking for a tutorial on how to learn this for what seems like forever. This is by far the most useful I've ever seen. And you deliver the information quickly, unlike videos where they take so long to explain a even a few notes I never watch the videos all the way through. I also loved your "What Made Bach Great" video. Bach is my favorite composer. Counterpoint forever!

I'm a keyboard player and really want to get better on guitar. This is the BEST presentation of the pentatonic scale I have EVER seen. Applause!

Quite possibly the clearest - most concise and useful lesson in learning pentatonics on the internet anywhere - and it took Rick 11 minutes to teach it - aboslutely no bullshit

Thank you Rick for the blessed way you communicate music and musicianship. And for all of your generosity.

Never been clearer... thank you Rick.

I’m just getting to understand this concept... getting to know the neck. I feel out of my depth. This video is the best one that I feel I can actually grasp so far. Thank you.

Rick, I hope you know how helpful and clear your videos are. Been playing for over 30 years (mostly by ear) and your videos have really helped me learn so much. Thank you!

YES!!! A BEGINNER VIDEO> EXACTLY MY LEVEL. thanks rick!!! YOUR CHANNEL GOT ME INTO MUSIC AGAIN AT 44. I CAN'T EXPLAIN THE JOY IT GIVES ME. GOOD JOB MAN.

Ive had some GREAT teachers thru the years... But in all honesty, I had to figure most things out on my own from endless hours of practice!!! I always wished I had some like You/Rick to show me some more theory!!! I ended up being an incredible rhythm guitarist, by building my ears, by repetition, feel & the desire to become better!!! But back in the 70’s & 80’s, THATS how most of us learned!! Thanx for the vids, I’ve turned countless people on to your site-Keep up the great job☮️🎶☮️

Good lesson as always. My advice: use a metronome and gradually increase the bps. Slow down when you make a mistake.

Thank you for this exceptional teaching video. Thank you Rick for your passionate and patient teaching.

Holy hell… i never knew the pentatonic could b used this way… a real eye opener, just the way to practice it makes a huge difference…thx man!

OH! You “shift,” and that’s how you make a smooth transition from one position to another! Why didn’t someone tell me that 20 years ago? Thanks for the tip!! 🎸😍

After playing guitar for almost four decades, these Pentatonic exercises you have shown here really inspire me. In the early 1990s I used to do some exercises like this (especially doing patterns with 5 notes, 6 notes, etc.), but I somehow didn't continue to practice these for whatever reason (probably laziness). I'm going to work on these more to further inspire my creativity. I love that playing guitar is a continual learning process since there are really endless possibilities in creating interesting things (patterns, riffs, sounds, etc.) on guitar. Thanks so much for this great video (among all of your other great videos too), Rick!!! :-D

Rick this is James Banks here man and I have to say today looking at you talk about the pentatonic minor scale you are an absolute badass and that's straight from the heart brother thank you so much😎😂😎!

This is the absolute best video I have found that covers not only the pentatonic scale, but how to practice it effectively. Awesome awesome content. Thanks Rick!

dude i've known the pentatonic scale for like 10 years and i never thought to practice it like this. great stuff.

I think the reason why this is the best lesson for pentatonics online is because it’s the one that includes the most work Lol ;) nice lesson Rick. I’ll be working on this for sure!

I had heard of "positions". I didn't know exactly what they were. Never been formally trained. Rick explained what I need to know in about 10 minutes. Rick you are a music god.

I've been stuck in a rut with my guitar and this is something to really get my teeth into. Thanks Rick! xxx:)

After on and off for 14 years of "playing" guitar, I've finally decided to learn the instrument correctly. This just this video, but your videos in general have helped me a lot this year!!! Thanks Rick!!!! You're the man!!

Love how he is using the finger numbers instead of naming frets. Most teach patterns and play them in different places on the neck, and then name all the frets. For a beginning I think this bombards the brain with too much info, and makes memorizing the different patterns a lot for difficult. That was certainly the case for me when I started to learn different scales.

This is such a great channel. From Bach counterpoint, to how to practice, to deconstructing great songs and convincing me that I'll never develop perfect pitch. Great stuff! Thanks.

Damn, Sam, an absolute eye opener! Position shifting has always been a real bear for me and these exercises provide a practical, melodic way to break out of old habits!

Thousand times thank you for this lesson.

All that, and Albert King ruled with just one box...genious... i loved the lesson, i Will practice that, thanks Richard

What a great lesson Rick, you are a great musician. Thanks so much for your videos.

thank you so much. I'm inspired.

So simple yet so USEFUL! Was in a rut trying to figure out how to go about practicing the minor pentatonic. I've been just kinda wandering around the fretboard picking the scale notes at random. This will keep me busy for a month! Seriously, thank you for this structured approach.

I love your posts. Do a video on not on shapes, scales,,or just patterns, but on how to phrase and improvise using and choosing notes. But also, how to place phrases rhythmically. Consider you teaching a classical player that doesn’t work from positions and scale shapes per se, but works from a deep understanding of the notes on the fret board and rhythm. Where are the phrases being placed in the 12 bar cycle. When improvising. Ready, go…

This is the best practice I have seen yet for learning and understanding the fretboard. Thank you. 🙏🏼

Thank you or taking the time to do this. I am always grateful for this type of help ;)

This one video has completely transformed my playing for the better of course. Thanks much, Rick!

Glad I found this one. I've been looking for a way to vary my scales practice... this looks like useful fun. Thanks.

I'm 66 and learned guitar when i was 13.Someone gave me a chord chart and showed me how to tune. Lots of calluses and practice i was determined to learn. Back then only thing we had was a radio and i would hear a song and would somehow memorize it and tried to figure out the chords, then i would wait for the song to come back on and see if i had it right. Can't read music but i can still figure out songs. Played in bands in my 20's Santana, Creedence, Deep purple , ZZ ,Fats domino and others. Learned that instead of pressing down hard sometimes a lighter touch would have different effects. Don't give up keep practicing.

To self: “Great job Hot Shot, you nailed those exercises!” Rick: “Now, do them all again but this time do them in each key and don’t forget to do all the sharp and flat keys, too.”

Brilliant practice routine. Thank you so much, Rick. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Rick thank you. Your lessons are the best. This is the most useful exercise on the Pentatonic minor on RU-vid.

Thanks for all you do to help others Rick. It really is appreciated.

Awesome teaching!! Thank You!!

Thanks for opening my eyes to this way of pentatonic playing, teachers keep throwing me the 5 positions and tell me it’s how you solo without showing me how to apply it.

Excellent lesson Rick. Been looking for this for a long time! This helps me to know where all the G notes are too. This will help my linear playing and improve my phrasing too. My horizontal playing is good in all 5 positions. It's my linear playing that suffers. This is a great exercise you've given me! Thankyou for the freebie Rick.

Loving your videos!

Great video and lesson! I know all the positions, and can move around the fret board, but I love the two string and three string practicing. This is excellent, Rick! Really enjoying your channel and what you create for everyone!

I like the vertical two-string thing. I also like the Les Paul special!

What a great exercise. Sort of a game-changer for a longtime, self taught player like myself. Thanks, Rick.

I used to love the old Beato video ! Thank you so much for making so many of us better musicians

Very good lesson Thank you,

Great lesson Rick. Thank you

Thank you for these videos. You have a tremendous gift for teaching.

This was perhaps the best lesson I could watch today lol

For me, one of the most enlightening videos on you tube!!!

Well done Rick...will add this to my practice for sure

Thanks Rick. Really like the two string drill and the 5 note groupings are so cool sounding. Love what you do man

Awesome video! Really helps me understand more how to use the pentatonic scale! Thanks!

Thanks, Rick. I appreciate the knowledge you share.

Great video Rick, loved the way you explained it all! cheers

Thank you. That answers my questions from your 'how I would relearn guitar'

thanks for your time Rick...awesome lesson

Man i really love your lessons! Thank you so much for that! You are better then any other teacher I saw before!!! Awesome!!

Great lesson, found it when I needed the next boost forward. Thanks.

Thank you Rick. It really put things together.

A real master lesson in under 12 minutes.

Been looking for these exercises all my life.

I love your stuff Rick it's not solely based on the jazz type theory or the blues but a great mixture of all sorts

Wooow! The first video I've seen making sense right frOm begining to the end! Thank you Sir... You're really a Guitar Legend.... Let me practice this now!!!

I loved it. Great lesson!

Really helpful, thanks for sharing! Only person I heard to say practice both fingerings on the scale, so true! 🙏💚

Great stuff, Rick!

This is a great way to practice scales, thanks for your insightful videos

Awesome tips, Rick! Thanks!

Great one Rick. I just came across it. Really helpful ideas.

You never seem to stop amazing me!! Thank you again. You really help me alot!

Yourenthusiasm is infectious the content is clear with useful information at every step, overall it’s a totally enjoyable and inspiring experience I so appreciate your presentation and your advice. It’s been three years since I’ve touched a guitar since my stroke. There is a significant void left, but I look forward to a time when I can play again I usually think of nothing else when I am daydreaming thank you again!, so until the next time...

Rick, this is one of the most valuable lesson session you have offered.

I just found your page. I love it. You have a gift for teaching.

Thanks Rick for this lesson. Very immportant one! It has changed my approch to pentatonic. One more time thank you brother!

Wow Rick I love it now I want to play pentatonic scales which I've been stalling thank you for this tutorial it's the best I've seen on pentatonic scales yet

Thank you for this great and eye opening lesson!

amazing lesson. i have been strugling connecting and sliding from one shape to another. u have nailed practice for this doing those groupings of 3 strings. no other practive method work as good as this for me

Thank you, Rich. Its awseome!

Awesome. Very useful. Thank you.

I have been looking for ways to properly practice scales. This video popped up and wow… it really helped. The video is 5 years old, I’m a subscriber, but I just watched it. It really lit a fire under me. Thank you Rick!!!

I’ve been working on these for weeks but not in such an organized manner. Great episode!! Thanks

Just great. Keep it coming, that was very interesting in terms of giving me ideas to practice.