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A Minor Pentatonic Solo
Pro Tips:
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Pro Tip:
A really good way to get this solo down is to work on small pieces at a time.
Really focus on learning the “phrases,” you will see them in many solos.
Make sure your bends are in tune!
You can use the backing tracks as an incredible practice tool, repeat a lick over and over, practice the solo note for note. Or, mix things up a bit, jump back and forth between your own licks and phrases from the solo. Do this two measures at a time, or one measure, or even two measures back and forth from solo to an improvised phrase. It’s a great way to build a vocabulary for soloing.
This thirteen measure A Minor Pentatonic solo, features many really useful and common techniques. Improve your soloing and phrasing using the minor pentatonic scale. This short A minor pentatonic solo incorporates eighth notes, triplets, sixteenth notes, rests, bends, hammer-ons, pull-offs,vibrato, and double-stops. All the essentials for a great solo.
The whole thing begins with a quarter note on the seventh fret fourth string in the first measure. Be careful of the eighth note rest on beat two. The rest of measure one is only three notes, the seventh fret on the fourth string, and the fifth fret on the third string. Next, we move to a full step bend on the seventh fret, third string, Immediately followed by four more notes on the third string, the seventh and fifth frets.
Measure three has a series of hammer-ons and pull-offs, on the third and fourth strings. You want to be careful to make the last note in measure three cut short to catch the quarter note rest on the first beat of measure four.
Bar five is a series of eighth note triplets with pull-offs and a bend release to more pull-offs, ending in measure six. You may want to practice this section separately for a bit to get the rhythm and the phrasing down. You could also take it a step further and repeat this lick in every key across the neck. It’s a lick you will see in many solos.
Measure seven and eight is more of a mix of two full step bends on the seventh fret on the third string, moving into faster sixteenth notes with a pull-off in bar eight. Don’t miss the quarter note rest on beat four.
Bar nine has a big full step bend on the eighth fret of the second string. Make sure you use your available fingers to add support to the finger that you use to bend that note. Use your first finger barred over the second and third string for the double stops on the fifth fret, before moving to the seventh fret fourth string.
Measure ten and eleven is a mix of eighth note triplets and sixteenth notes that descend through pattern three and pattern one of the pentatonic scale. Use you third and first fingers for all these notes. Notice that there are two big position shifts, one on beat three of bar ten. The second is in beat four of measure eleven, make these position shifts smooth as possible.
The whole thing ends in bar twelve and thirteen landing on the root of the Pentatonic scale on the fifth fret, sixth string. Be sure to add plenty of vibrato and let that note ring out a bit as well. Maybe even let the note feed back a little!
Free Demo Video
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Backing Tracks
Most exercises include backing tracks for you to practice with. They are also provided in the same tempos as the videos. Backing tracks are available for paid members only and are downloadable MP3 files.
Transcriptions
Every exercise includes a transcription in standard notation as well as guitar tab. The transcriptions are presented online and are also available for download as a PDF for printing or saving to your computer. The transcriptions are available for Paid Members of PracticeTheGuitar.com
