Pentatonic Scale for Metal Guitar

Part of the Video Series How to Play Heavy Metal Guitar

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Learn how to play the pentatonic scale in heavy metal guitar playing in this free video lesson.

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Posted by nzbiker on Saturday, 14 June, 2008 at 12:20 PM

(mark as spam)

cant see the video

Video Transcript

Pentatonic Scale for Metal Guitar
Hi, my name is Gary Schutt and we are talking about heavy metal guitar. Right now we are going to talk about the pentatonic scale. Pentatonic scale is the most widely used scale ever. It is based around a minor scale, has 5 notes in it, hence pentad and we are going to talk about this in A. So A 5th thread E string, A thread e-string C, D 5th thread A string and E 7th thread A string, G 5th thread D string and the octave A 7th thread D string. One, two, three, four five. We can go up the other octave from there. To a C on the G string, D, E,G and octave A and then the C on top. This covers all six strings in this position. So we have the shape of a minor 3rd here, a whole step, a whole step, a whole step, a minor 3rd and a minor 3rd. So your first finger stays on the 5th thread the whole way up and down. While you switch between your pinky and your 3rd finger. So on the low E you will have your first finger and your pinky and then the A string you will have first finger third finger, D string will be first finger, third finger. G string will be first finger, third finger, B string will be first finger pinky and then the high E will be first finger pinky. It is a very simple pattern once you get used to it.

About the Expert

Expert: Gary Schutt has a degree in songwriting from the Berklee College of Music. Gary has written over 150 songs, has 5 CDs, and 1 DVD currently available. Read More