
The key to learning to play lead is practice and repetition. For example, you can slide various notes up and down, hammer on, stretch your fingers to hit three consecutive notes on a string, or just shift your hands up or down on the neck. Experiment with different ways of connecting the two positions of the scale. Then when you master one position, move on to the next. Try to create different licks within that position. Start by memorizing one position of the major pentatonic scale at a time. It really helps to visualize this on the neck of the guitar. This trick works for all five positions! Practice makes perfect The key difference is that you will start the scale with your pinky on the A root note and not your pointer finger. This is where you will play position five of the major pentatonic scale (the exact same scale formation as the first position of the minor pentatonic scale). Now, to play the major pentatonic in that same key, move your pointer finger down three frets to the second fret. Note that you begin the minor pentatonic scale by playing the root note, the A on the fifth fret sixth string, with your pointer finger.

Start by playing the first position of the minor pentatonic scale – let’s say in the key of A for discussion purposes. The formation of each major and minor pentatonic scale position is pretty much the exact same except for the starting point or root notes. If you already know how to play the minor pentatonic scale, there is an easy trick to figure out the major pentatonic scale. Use the major pentatonic scale to play fill riffs – Guitar Lesson Video A Major Pentatonic Scale:
