Melodic Patterns for the Minor Pentatonic Scale

Lessons ❭ Guitar Scales ❭ Minor Pentatonic Scale ❭ Melodic Patterns

Melodic Patterns

Playing melodic patterns in a scale allows you to create "phrases" with the notes and improvise easier with riffs or solos. These patterns run through the minor pentatonic scale in a set order. After the first group of notes in the pattern is played, the next group starts on the 2nd note of the previous group as shown below.

"Phrasing" refers to using notes of a scale in an order other than simply moving up or down the scale note by note. This allows melodies and riffs to have a unique or distinctive expression, similar to talking or singing.

This first melodic pattern moves by 3 notes at a time in order of the minor pentatonic scale. This pattern gives you an idea of how to come up with different patterns on your own.

Root Note on A
e|------------------------------|
B|------------------------------|
G|------------------------------|
D|--------------------5----5-7--|
A|----3-5--3-5-7--5-7----7------|
E|--5---------------------------|
Note Pattern:
    1-2-3  2-3-4  3-4-5  4-5-6   

Root Note on A
e|------------------------------|
B|------------------------------|
G|------------------------------|
D|--7-5----5--------------------|
A|------7----7-5--7-5-3--5-3----|
E|---------------------------5--|
Note Pattern:
    6-5-4  5-4-3  4-3-2  3-2-1

Now try using a fourth note in a pattern:

Root Note on G
e|-----------------------------|
B|-----------------------------|
G|-----------------------------|
D|-----------------3------3-5--|
A|----1-3-5--1-3-5----3-5------|
E|--3--------------------------|
Note Pattern:
    1-2-3-4  2-3-4-5  3-4-5-6   

Root Note on G
e|-----------------------------|
B|-----------------------------|
G|-----------------------------|
D|--5-3------3-----------------|
A|------5-3----5-3-1--5-3-1----|
E|--------------------------3--|
Note Pattern:
    6-5-4-3  5-4-3-2  4-3-2-1

Practice each pattern until you can play them at a fast pace. The muscle memory that will develop will help improvising in a solo or when coming up with riffs. The patterns are just a method to develop different note combinations and phrases.

This next pattern uses 4 notes, but repeats a note at the end of the pattern.

Root Note on F
e|------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------1------1-3-1-|
A|-----1------1-3-1--1-3---3--3-------|
E|-1-4---4--4-------------------------|
Note Pattern:
   1-2-3-2  2-3-4-3  3-4-5-4  4-5-6-5

This pattern skips notes, and in some parts it skips a string. Try holding down 2 or more notes at once to make it easier moving through this pattern.

Root Note on A
e|--------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------5------|
D|-------------5--------7---5------5-7--|
A|----7---5------5-7--5---7----7--------|
E|--5---8----8--------------------------|
Note Pattern
    1-4-2-3  2-5-3-4  3-6-4-5  4-7-5-6