Using the 5 Pentatonic Positions to Navigate the Fretboard and Play in all Modes

[@MustafaBaabad]

For information to other visitors, Brian has a background as an Engineer. That is why when he explains something it is systematic logical and easy to digest. A rare combination; an engineer who is also have good knowledge and enthusiast with musical instrument. Thanks for your lesson Brian. Cheers from Indonesia.

[@kevinzogg3331]

That’s why I like him so much. Makes perfect sense now :) Thanks for the insight

[@CFLDumpsters]

That’s awesome

[@azmo1981]

that is why I like his explanations so much! Mechanical/Controls Engineer myself!

[@anthonykinrade8642]

Yes, another engineer here! I think it makes life more difficult!😅

[@MustafaBaabad]

@@anthonykinrade8642 it makes make music easily understandable.

[@transformer889]

Probably the best explanation of pentatonic scale and modes on youtube, thanks

[@mortenjohansen5781]

Brian is a brilliant teacher with the unique ability to simplfy things . There are several people on the ''tube'' worthwhile taking a listen to but my goto is always here.

[@dougharrison3843]

brilliantly explained, struggled for months and now the light goes on , thanks

[@hhattingh]

IKR? How many teachers after teaching you the pentatonic positions are absolutely amazed that you can't solo basic stuff. It is because they omit what they consider 'elementary' or self explanatory details out of the lessons. You have no idea how long it took me to realize each position is basically a chord, Penta means five chords after which the same notes repeat themselves. Mind blown! I was just scrambling up down patterns with a metronome without understanding why?

[@cancelbubble6535]

Brilliant simplicity. Explained and demonstrated very well. Absolute gold in this video.

[@kevinfairless2197]

This was exactly what I needed to watch, to understand how to go from Pentatonic to diatonic. Thankyou Brian Kelly!

[@joebermuda6452]

Pentatonic then diatonic 7 modes are the most important. Everything else comes after.

[@edd4790]

Gosh I have found this years to late - great lesson, so informative and well presented

[@musicgeniusful]

I've always thought that you deserve more subscribers. Your tutorials are normally quite in depth and very easy to understand. Thank you!

[@WarrenAndrews-w5x]

Amazing amazing amazing thank you so much!😎

[@robbah9939]

Awesome! Simple and to the point.

[@Spahr62]

Amazing! Learned more in 1/2 hour than jumping around the internet all these years! Thank you for this excellent lesson, Brian!!

[@philiphmooresr]

Love your site Brian! Love your spirit… generous! You’re approach to the 5 position CAGED structure has been a major influence on my soloing improvement. Thanks Brother!!

[@marchallaert7372]

That’s all very nicely taught. Thank you, this should keep me busy for a while. 👍

[@trustyaxe]

Very informative and insightful! Thank you for taking time to post this...it is very helpful.

[@bryanheck5091]

Absolutely fantastic, this was the video I needed to step off my current plateau. Thanks brother

[@MrBazda]

Great stuff. Perfectly explained.

[@jeremyacton4569]

Thank you, that was a big help. I will be taking screen shots and making a poster of each mode's spelling and shape. and one of all the 5 pentatonic patterns. I like to absorb such stuff off a poster on the wall.

[@georgekelly9797]

Good lesson Brian. I really enjoy playing around with the Pentatonic Scale. You gave me some good pointers to open up my playing. Hope all is going well. Thanks, be well, be safe, peace.

[@Jack-zr2kv]

There is so much information on the internet it can be definately overwhelming , Thank you Brian your lessons are very well explained and have helped heaps with transposing and now with penatonics

[@marcusmiller8267]

I must have seen a dozen videos and web articles on the 5 pentatonic patterns, and yours was the first one that left me feeling like I honestly know where to go on the neck. Thanks so much for explaining it in a way that made sense. Between this and the 3 notes-per-string chromatic scales I'm also working on (I already know some of those modes), I might just start sounding like a guitar player! Thanks so much!

[@derekgammage9241]

The way you explained this really clicked with me. subscribed. thank you

[@fake734]

After years of playing I have never understood modes until now making this lesson the best lesson I have ever had! You deserve a reward for this brilliant lesson! Thanks Brian!

[@dougsensei]

Thanks Brian, this really helped. I was struggling to understand what to do with the patterns when you changed key, but what you said about the numbers being arbitrary made a lot of sense.

[@dayjeenhomeschool1369]

Brian, thank you very much for your times and your guitar teaching. I really do learn. Have a wonderful day.

[@Roman-jh8kr]

This video has been a nut cracker for me in understanding how to connect the positions of the pentatonic scale. I was very confused that whether I need to follow the sequence of the notes or I can play them in any order. It seems that I can play in any order as long as they fall within the key. But I must confess that I got happily distracted in listenning to the tune rather than the explanations. It is so soothing that I could listen to it all day. 🥰. Thank you Brian.

[@cooldude4361]

Hey Guy I'm a newbie who has just finished learning the 5 position of the minor pentatonic scale and you just blew me away with these additions to it, nice to know. thanks

[@henrydeurhof8764]

Great lesson Brian Thank you so much for the way you explain things with your diagrams as well Awsome

[@photoguy4212]

Whenever I need something explained very simply and effectively I know exactly where to come. Great channel. Thank you for providing all of this incredibly valuable info.

[@dry509]

By the way really like the way you compare and contrast to the piano. I am coming from the piano so it really helps to see what you’re talking about in terms of the piano keyboard. Thanks.

[@ericwarrington6650]

Hey Brian! Thanks man I've been digging into your lessons lately and you sure do have this stuff on lockdown..lol..great work..ty again...🤘😜🎸🎶☮️

[@photojeffd]

This is the best guitar teaching video I've ever seen! From, I'm pretty sure , at least 500! Absolute brilliant way to explain the pentatonic positions!

[@zombieguitar]

Thank you! 😃

[@ianmaden381]

DEFINATELY the best explanation of the pentatonic scale and al its wonders ! Many thanks ...I now the why as well as the what !!!!! Thanks 😀

[@morrisgentry8624]

Brian is the best teacher of guitar on the internet. I’ve been playing since the 60’s but learn something new every time I watch one of his videos.

[@zombieguitar]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for the words 😀

[@stevenmorgan9385]

I found this so easy to understand and it has proved to be a massive 'light bulb moment' to learning the Pentatonic scale and how to play in different keys all over the fretboard. Thank you so much for this post

[@zombieguitar]

Glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for checking it out!! 😁

[@hotrodgs]

I'm watching this with my jaw hanging on my belly I have blindly been practicing the pentatonic scales hoping I would "get it" ...what a eye opening video , all of a sudden a few pieces drop into place thankyou for making it real and how it works and how it fits together, I sir am indebted to you ,

[@NuisanceWildlifeTrapping]

Just discovered Brian . Have watch guite a few of his videos . Really explains things well ! Which is rare to find .

[@Seanhy5]

Thank you Brian, this is the first pentatonic pattern video that has made sense to me and made me realise that the 5 positions are playing the same 5 notes of the key being played and not, as I thought, different notes in different patterns. Thus massively simplifying the fretboard in my mind. 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@zombieguitar]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for checking out the vid 😁

[@cesaraugustop]

Completely sure that many of the best guitar youtubers, comes here to learn. Brian is amazing, an outstanding proffesor. After many years without progress, Brian made me dust off my guitars and return to my amateur passion. This can only be achieved with a true teaching virtuoso. Thanks Brian! (The editing of the videos is impressive, such a talent!).

[@zombieguitar]

I appreciate the words!! Thank you, and thank you for following along with my vids 😀

[@timdavid3574]

Thanks for the info; I truly enjoy and learn from your lessons. Your simple, to the point, no BS approach is the best on KZbin. Looking forward to the next one, thanks again!

[@juanvalera7272]

I quitted the guitar for one reason that i was stucked!!i just started again with the guitar 2 years ago,i have my electric for 2 weeks now,after a long long time from this very moment is when i understood how the 5 pentatonic shapes works..Thanks to you Brian,also just subscribed to your channel,im 50 now and after all those years your the one who enlightened me,.again thank you so much..

[@jammingridena]

thank you.. the best teacher on youtube.. direct to the point no dram etc.. now i can fully understand all 5 positions without confusing❤

[@zombieguitar]

Thank you! Glad to hear you found the vid helpful 😀

[@drutgat2]

Brian, this is better than any other explanation of the subject matter - I wish I had seen this when I was starting out. Many thanks.

[@danjordan4567]

Thanks 😊 you make learning those scales super easy

[@josearalat]

I thought I didn't need to go through this stuff again, since I've been a guitar player for decades. I was gladly wrong. This was refreshing, very useful, and just brilliant. God bless you brother! Saludos desde Puerto Rico.

[@kiyomiheinrich2147]

just learning guitar... singing like Bruce of iron maden for a long time . so i thought id learn to play iron maden...you are amazing!!

[@embreesmith7613]

Thanks Brian !! 🙂

[@bobbydhal2199]

Very Good Lesson , good insight into scales and modes

[@EDGARDOUX1701]

What a lesson Brian!! I'm so grateful to your channel and web site. But I do have a problem with modes and it's how and when to use them...so I turn out using only minor/major pentas :( I just can find my way and I promise I tried! Thank you again.

[@zombieguitar]

Have you seen this one: www.zombieguitar.com/blog/how-to-actually-use-modes-in-your-playing

[@joebermuda6452]

So when it comes to modes I find it easiest to use the diatonic scale to break it down. You have to locate the key or tonal center of the chord progression. Each chord being played represents an individual mode in that key. You do not have to play each individual mode over each chord change although you can if you want too. The important thing is to highlight the chord tones over each chord change whenever you choose to emphasize or hold a note over the chord being played. For example if you are to stop and do a really nice vibrato over a chord and that chord is A major. That vibrato should be over an A, C#, or an E note over that chord

[@MrArtist1971]

Thanks for all you do Brian! Terrific video.

[@RANDOG1951]

I've said it before but say it again. I have NO BUYERS REMORSE purchasing Brian's Lifetime Membership for Zombie Guitar. I'm learning a lot.

[@zombieguitar]

Thank you!! I really appreciate the words. I'm glad to hear that you are finding the site helpful 😀

[@rocmanruss]

Great video lesson! Simplicity at its best. Thanks

[@Lillywright501]

I understood this so much better than any other. Thanxs

[@sixstringsandthetruth3891]

100% this is how I teach. Great video. I'm sure it will help many people. I feel if you can understand the pentatonic well, you can play anything. I start people out just how you describe....meaningless dots, then the notes, then the intervals. By the time they understand the intervals, it's like magic, they can suddenly play things all over the neck and make it sound good. If they show an interest in moving past blues based music, we start introducing other intervals into the major & minor pentatonic shapes. The first time a student plays a jazzy sounding line from a "blues scale" with a couple "extra" notes is like when The Wizard of Oz goes from black and white to colour........

[@zombieguitar]

So true!! 😀

[@louisdort5857]

This 25 minute video unraveled years of confusion. Thanks Brian for clearing up the facts 😊

[@mikestroud9969]

Great video and info Big B. Good job of instruction. 😎👍👌🎸🎸✔️

[@DamianS1893]

Most excellent instructions 👍👍

[@robinanderson1115]

BEST LESSONS 4 GUITAR ,SUPER SIMPLIFIED.

[@pierrelecrenier]

Hi. Thank you so much for this tutorial! It connects everything together! Really really helpfull!

[@58Tommy]

Fantastic lesson!

[@David-sx7on]

This is just what I needed. This is the best video in this topic if you ask me. Thanks

[@TheBukowski85]

Great! You are the best guitar teacher on Tube. Thanks!

[@jeffearle1687]

Great lesson Brian! Another light bulb just went off! Thanks your fan , Jeff!

[@tommore3263]

Really good lesson Brian. Glad I signed up. You really do get through to the core and simplify the process without sacrificing thoroughness. Thanks

[@zombieguitar]

Thanks Tom! I really appreciate it 😀

[@reymundyasnocal4313]

Thanks Brian . Very helpful

[@stuartdickson6251]

always worth the time, big big thanks (again)

[@thiagoandes2951]

You are an awesome teacher thank you.

[@earthianfriendly5708]

Glad to see 👀 you back narrowing the gap to pro understanding 👏

[@trissweet]

Hey Brian cool guitar 👍 great lesson also!

[@crvdutch1536]

Best explanation so far………thanks Zombie man

[@johnschoppmusic]

Love these videos!! THANK YOU!!

[@ginoXcaron]

Brian is the best "guitat teaching" youtuber I've seen so far. But, if you're left handrd like me, sometimes it's very hard to follow the fretboard illustrations. But I find a wrbsite whete everything is for left handed players. You can find pretty mich the same illustrations shown in Brian's videos, print them and follow these whike listening to his explaination. WAY EASIER. It's called Leftyfretz, it is not at all to replace any of Brian's lesson but it's more like a great tool to foolow along Brian's videos. That way, you can actually focus on what he's teaching instead of thinking too much because when you have an illustration of a fretboard full of noted and you play an instrument that is actually "mirrored" no matter what, your brain tries to get your hands going different directions or use the wrong fingers etc

[@davideskelin8266]

Lots of teachers out there. But, Brian’s knows what we need.

[@Canal_Flasom2-nw5sx]

Fantastic... Thanks for sharing..

[@rolandteves2724]

Thank you sir for that wonderful tips….Godbless you always!!!

[@stevelarsen4526]

Easy stuff! Thx, Brian.👍😊🎸

[@steveo44]

Great teaching here. Truly impressive. Wish I had videos like this in the first year on learning!. I still am learning... But not much better! 😁

[@andrewshaw3373]

Brilliant lesson 👏

[@scottjackson3446]

What brand of guitar are you playing? The green pattern is beautiful! Great lesson!

[@GaryMeyers-q6k]

Great teacher

[@rachellebertol2947]

Thank you!!! GOD BLESS!!!

[@rontakabuda4474]

Awesome video,Thank you so much.Brian!

[@stringman509]

Brian love the backing track have you got it on KZbin to down load ?

[@philjames1019]

Nice one Brian!!

[@stringman509]

Hi Brian the light has just come on m8 I can play all 5 boxes in A minor so this is brilliant thanks Colin UK 🇬🇧 👍 😀

[@johnporter5337]

Excellent !

[@JohnAdams-rm7zm]

You made my day ✊

[@kenhardacre2139]

A mega lesson....thanks

[@shuster1921]

💯th like Brian, keep up your Great work Sir!

[@prateeksitoula4268]

Hey brian, can you please make a lesson on string muting technique? How to mute strings adjacent strings while playing pentatonic scales? The string noise is soo annoying.

[@ghostbean7582]

Not my account, but my step kiddo's account... I've been looking for this specific information for almost 20 years... My music died for 15 because life sucks like I hope you never understand, but I'm coming back. And I have never seen this specific info explained in books, videos, or guitarists who actually knew what they were talking about. I'm gonna jump on my actual account at some point and sub, because this is what I need to learn

[@mattsullivan7649]

Great video! And I have to say, all around I think you do a fantastic job at explaining your videos (love the multiple examples)...better than anyone else on youtube I've found! Although I do have 1 question I'm hoping you could clarify (or maybe theres a video you already made?)! One which I've been on a quest to figure out for a while now, and it may be that this video inadvertently did answer it...but I want to be sure :) I was hoping there might be 1 consistent "relationship" to be able to switch in and out of the patterns / shapes of the pentatonic scale and the diatonic scale (and vice versa). From what I can tell, it's not that simple (unfortunately)... Meaning...theres 5 pentatonic shapes + 5 diatonic shapes. Ideally it would be cool if, say for example position / shape 5 of diatonic always correlates to position / shape 1 of the pentatonic, etc. But it seems like these don't consistently correlate / line up with each-other all of the time. It seems like there are 3 combinations between the pentatonic + diatonic shapes / patterns. 1) Aeolian + Ionian share the same shape / pattern relationship to the pentatonic 2) Dorian + Lydian share a different shape / pattern relationship to the pentatonic 3) Phrygian + Mixolydian share another shape / pattern relationship to the pentatonic Meaning you cant just be like "oh, i'm in position 3 of pentatonic, I can switch to position X of diatonic" (or vice versa). Because it depends on which mode you're in. it can be 1 of 3 positions / scenarios... If that is true...it does seem you just have to know the intervals I guess and not rely on 1 master relationship. Not that, that is a bad thing per se, just a little harder I suppose :)

[@BruceSmithbsmithmj]

Amazing video

[@elmerarellano2674]

thanks BRIAN

[@scottcarroll550]

This is the information that opens it up for me now I know why they say whether you call I position one or not that means are you saying major or minor is position one.

[@severedmetal]

This was great. It gave me that “a-ha” moment

[@cleisonsantos6547]

great stuff

[@Jhossack11]

Good stuff

[@jeffro.]

Wow, Brian! This is awesome. I first learned guitar before the 'net existed, and I'm self-taught, so I didn't have anyone teach me pentatonic scales. So now, I'm only 9 minutes into your video, and I see that each position simply adds one more note to the scale. (I was wondering how to remember & how to move between them). But now my next question is, how to know which 5 notes are in each scale? I already noticed that they're different for Major & minor scales... Hope you answer that question, too...! (Edit: You did, of course!) You're so awesome as a teacher! Zombie Guitar has got to be the BEST guitar teaching website on the planet! Certainly the best in the entire solar system (possibly excluding some moons of Neptune, IDK lol)! And possibly best in the Universe! Maybe even the Multiverse (still possibly excluding certain moons of Neptune, the jury's still out with them!)???

[@zombieguitar]

Haha I appreciate that Jeff, but you are overcomplicating something that is much simpler. You don't add notes when you change positions. It's just the same 5 notes the entire time in all positions, and those 5 notes are exactly the same for both major and minor!

[@ORIGINALDaveB]

@@zombieguitar Just curious, that being the case why use alternative fingering for major vs minor? Thanks.

[@zombieguitar]

@@ORIGINALDaveB it's not alternate fingerings. It's just that you use a different finger to find the location of the tonic note based on whether the rhythm section is in a major key or minor key context. The notes are exactly the same regardless of whether the rhythm section is major or minor, but how you locate the "home box" differs. Make sense?

[@ORIGINALDaveB]

@@zombieguitar I'm going to go back and forth between the registers (maj and min) and just let it sink in. Thanks again! I'm still absorbing your Circle of 5ths info as well.

[@jamesdobrovnik]

That was deep stuff.

[@Ray-zu4mt]

Hi great video thanks for your time. One thing that came to mind was that quite some time ago I copied the finger pattern shape for some chords I still use them but I’m unaware of what the name of the chords I’m using. My question I’d there a simple way too to spell out the chords to to find there correct name. May be something you would consider for a future video.

[@zombieguitar]

You just need to understand the rules of chord construction. I have a bunch of videos on the topic, but this covers the basics: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5uZm4mwmLyFi9k