Uploaded January 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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This is one of the first pentatonic exercises I learned as a beginner guitarist. As you start transcribing and learning solos, you’ll see how often this is used in music.

The pattern this follows should become obvious after playing through the first half of it.

Here are the notes ascending:

A C A C D C
D E D E G E
G A G A C A
C D C D E D
E G E G A G
A C A C

Here are the notes descending:

C A C A G A
G E G E D E
D C D C A C
A G A G E G
E D E D C D
C A C A

I will provide a link to the tab for this exercise soon.

Practice this exercise in all 5 patterns, across the fretboard in every key.

Try practicing it with a metronome for better time.