Pentatonic Scale ExercisesA scale "shape" studyTablEdited by Mike Stangelandd`    @    `   @ @  `        @  `      @    `    @ `       @ `  `   @ ! " " " " # @# `# @$ `$ % % ()@* `* * * + + + + @- `- . . 0 2 @2 `2 2 2 3 3 3 5 @5 `5 6 8: : @: : : : `; ; `< <= = @= @A B B B B B @C `C @D `D D E E HI`J J K K @K K K K `M N N @N P@R `R R S S S S S @U `U V V X Z @Z Z Z [ `[ [ [ `\ ] @] ^ `b b b b b @c `c c @d `d e e hi`j j k k @k k k k `m n n @n p@r `r r s s s s s @u `u v v x z @z z z { `{ { { } @} `} ~      @ `  `   @ `    @    `   @   @    `    @ `       @ `  `   @       @ ` @ `   `    @    @ `   @ `        @ `    @    `   `   @      @ `  @ `    `    @    `   @ @ `       @ `     @    `    @ `       @ `  `   @ `    @    `   @ @ `       @ `     @    `    @ `       @ `  `   @  `     @     `    @ @ `       @ `     @    `    @ `  " " " " " @# `# # `$ % % @% ( )`* * + + @+ + + + `- . . @. 0@2 `2 2 3 3 3 3 3 @5 `5 6 6 8 : @: : : ; `; ; ; = @= `= > @B B B B B @C `C C `D E E @E H I`J J K K @K K K K `M N N @N P@R `R R S S S S S @U `U V V X Z @Z Z Z [ `[ [ [ ] @] `] ^ `b b b b b @c `c c `d e e @e h i`j j k k @k k k k `m n n @n p@r `r r s s s s s @u `u v v x z @z z z { `{ { { } @} `} ~      @ `  `   @       @ ` @ `   C or Am PentatonicG or Em PentatonicD or Bm PentatonicF or Dm PentatonicA or F#m PentatonicBb or Gm PentatonicE or F#m PentatonicEb or Cm Pentatonic B PentatonicAb or Fm PentatonicF# or Ebm PentatonicDb PentatonicC# or Bbm PentatonicCb PentatonicGb Pentatonicopen positionD ShapeG Shape (Bb Shape) (C shape) (G shape) (F shape) (D shape) (E shape) (A shape) (Eb shape)If you want to learn to improvise the easiest way to get started IMO is to learn the pentatonic scales. They are simple 5 note scales derived by leaving out the 4th and the 7th notes of the major scales. The advantage of using them is that you don't have to know which chord you're in as you improvise because they will work over any chord within the chord family of that key. For instance, you're playing a tune in the key of G that changes through G, C, D, and Em. As long as you stay within the G pentatonic scale you can ignore the chord changes and just concentrate on creating a solo. More importantly, learning the pentatonic scales will give you an understanding of the entire neck of the mandolin. They are like skeletons of the full major scales but much easier to learn and remember. I created this exercise so I could build a mental map of the neck that will allow me to tie everything together all the way to and above the 12 fret. With practice I've learned to carry a solo from the open position up to the 5th position and back down in a few keys without thinking about it. You just don't have time to "think about it" when you are improvising, it has to be automatic. Fortunately there's a little method to this madness that makes learning the scales much easier. I call it learning "scale shapes". Once you've learned the 5 basic "shapes" all you have to do is learn how they are sequenced up the neck and grand pattern starts to emerge that makes everything fall in place. The 5 basic pentatonic scale shapes are G, F, D, C, and Bb. They are interconnected and repeat in this order as you move up the neck in any key. So all you have to do is learn the shapes and the sequence and you've got it. I derived the names of the shapes from the basic scale shapes in the open or first position. Once you learn these shapes you can easily learn to string them together to form a complete interlocking pattern from open position to 5th position for each major key. I hope you find the exercise useful. Mike Stangeland c w")638=B38Mandolin