5 cool guitar pentatonic exercises to help your improvisation
In this lesson proposed by Your Guitar Academy, we take a look at 5 very different pentatonic exercises that will not only improve your technique and speed but also give you a new set of ideas to try when improvising. We have included a free backing track and Guitar Pro tablatures. Give it a try today!
“5_pentatonic_exercises.gp”
(click on the image to download the Guitar Pro 7 file)
“5_pentatonic_exercises.gpx”
(click on the image to download the Guitar Pro 6 file)
Guitar Pro 7.5 tip
Use the “Speed Trainer” to gradually accelerate the tempo as you improve your playing. You can use the slow down and loop functions in the program to take each exercise and learn at your own pace.
The Theory
These exercises all use the A Minor pentatonic scales. We use all 5 shapes, so if you would like to learn more about the 5 shapes then please check this course out: lead guitar intermediate lesson.
For each exercise, here are the shapes we use:
Exercise 1 (3 Up 1 Down): Pentatonic Box 1.
Exercise 2 (Tetratonics): Pentatonic Box 5, 1 and 2 (in that order).
Exercise 3 (Descending 5’s): Pentatonic Box 5, 4 and 3 (in that order).
Exercise 4 (Octave Pentatonics): Pentatonic Box 1.
Exercise 5 (Pentatonic 3rds): Pentatonic Box 5, 1, 2 & 3 (in that order).
Speed
So, what speed should you play these at? Well, this is a great question! The answer is to play at a speed that is comfortable for you. We’ve recorded the exercises at 120BPM, which can be a good aim. However, to best practice these exercises you should play them at a speed that gives you time to think about each note. Only once doing that for a long time should you start to speed up. Taking longer in the first place to run the exercises slowly is so important, as the speed will then happen very naturally.
More About Your Guitar Academy
“Our company is dedicated to bringing you the best guitar lessons you can get. Whether you want to learn 1-2-1 with a tutor, via Skype, via Video Exchange, or via our online courses. Wherever you are in the world and whatever budget you are working with, we have top class tuition ready for you”.
Dan, guitar teacher at YGA
If you want to rapidly improve your guitar skills, then please check out Your Guitar Academy online guitar courses.
They also offer Skype guitar lessons and private guitar lessons in areas all across the UK, including guitar lessons in London.
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13 Comments
“Download the backing track” is broken unfortunately
Hi Vladimir,
Sorry we’re not sure to understand, but feel free to contact our Support from this link we’ll be happy to help:
https://support.guitar-pro.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
Can see this blog from the “what’s new” tab in the app but can’t download the files from there. Have to open safari to download the .gp files then SHARE to get the file to the app. Kind of makes the WHATS NEW tab a useless feature without download. Please fix.
Hi Michael, thank you for reporting that problem. We are working on it. Thomas
Morning. If i buy the new version of Guitar pro for windows, will the old files (guitar pro 6) still work on the new version? Thank you.
Hi, yes with Guitar Pro 7 you can open all Guitar Pro files from 1 to 7. Thank you
I’ve got an old version of GP – and have never updated it as I liked using that and tuxguitar. I really wish that once you have one version of GP, that you wouldn’t have to keep buying the new versions to be able to use the .gp tab files. 🙁
Hi Simon, thank you for your feedback. You can upgrade for half price from Guitar Pro 6 to 7 for example. It’s a way for us to propose new features and to give support to the users. Thanks!
Yes, And is an instant classic on the principles behind improvisation and how to apply them to almost every area of your life. It shares many fun and entertaining exercises you can practice with your friends and family.
In my song book Why can’t my credit card be purchased?
I am Chinese. I believe that if you use WeChat or Alipay on your website, there will be many users from China who purchase it.
We really like guitar pro! ! ! ! I hope you take this advice.
H! Thank you very much for your nice suggestion! I have sent it to the team. Please send a message to our support, they will help you with that: goo.gl/tq6163.
I have GP 7.5.2 ON 2 Windows Computers I now have an iPad and iPhone. I have to add The 7.5.2 on my iPad and install the Songbook App.
Can I install my currant Version of GP ,
or do I need to buy a new prescription?
I have the GP License number
Hi Hugh, the app and the software are two different products, you need to acquire the app even if you have the software. You can use the Guitar Pro app on iPad and Iphone with the same apple ID. Thanks