Diagonal Pentatonics for Fun & Fluid Lead Guitar

About This Lesson

The term diagonal pentatonics is an informal name I’m using for a particular way to play any pentatonic scale. It allows us to play fluid pentatonic scales use fewer fingers (easier to play), memorize fewer patterns (easier to remember), span more octaves (more possibilities), and embraces slides between notes (sounds better). Plus — they’re simply more fun than the conventional “box” or CAGED scale positions. This lesson gives you an overview, with some tips on using them in your playing… let’s jump in!

• 0:00 Lesson Summary
• 1:27 What is a “Diagonal” Scale?
• 3:42 Major Shapes
• 5:45 Jam Track Practice
• 8:22 Minor Shapes
• 14:05 Additional Tips
• 15:56 12 Bar Blues Improv

Instructional PDF 15 pages

Lesson Discussion

Related Videos

Here’s a list of the lessons I’ve made teaching related topics. Whether the pentatonic scale, CAGED system, reading fretboard diagrams, or more — everything below will help further inform the things I teach in my main lesson above.

And here’s some (mostly) song-inspired lessons, putting some of these diagonal scale concepts to use.

Play-Along Practice Videos

Here’s a few extra videos, made in thanks to those supporting me with Premium membership here on my Song Notes website. To those showing your support, you have my true thanks and appreciation — and I hope you find these additional videos helpful!

Single Chord Jam Tracks

Each of these videos cycle through 4 measures of a single guitar chord, combined with bass and drums to evoke the sound of a full band. They repeat for 6-7 minutes, with the counting shown on screen — so you can easily see where you are in the 4 measure sequence.

These are great for practice because there aren’t any chord changes to worry about! Pick a pentatonic scale to match the single-chord jam track (e.g. C major or minor pentatonic for the C major jam track) — and practice playing the scale over the jam track. Try to stay in time, on the beat. Notice which notes in the scale sound “good” to land on (scale degrees 1, 3, and 5), and which introduce a bit of intrigue or tension (scale degrees 2 & 6).

12 Bar Blues Jam Tracks

These videos cycle through a 12 bar blues, each of which are played with guitar, bass, and drums. You can play along with any of these when using the matching pentatonic scale. For example, use a C pentatonic (major or minor) when playing over the 12 bar blues in C. Again, the current chord is always shown on screen so you’re aware of where you are in the progression. At the end of the 12 bars, thigns start again from the beginning.

When practicing scales over these jam tracks, you need to use your ear a bit more and determine which notes sound good (or bad) over each chord. This is something you’ll get better with the more you practice! I recommend starting with small portions of the scale, and expanding into more of the scale only when you’re comfortable. See the end of my main tutorial (above) for an example of me noodling over a 12 bar blues using the diagonal scale shape.