Distinguish the pentatonic minor from the pentatonic major scale. The pentatonic scale is a five-note scale. Looking at the C major scale helps to understand the difference. The C major scale is C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. The pentatonic major scale is built from the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th of the major scale -- C-D-E-G-A. The C pentatonic minor scale contains a flatted 3rd (Eb rather than E) and a flatted 7th (Bb rather than B) -- C-Eb-F-G-Bb. The 3rd is the decisive note that distinguishes a major from a minor scale.
Learn the the pentatonic minor scale in the first position. This is the pattern most commonly used by blues and rock guitarists. We will do all of the examples in the key of A.
The A pentatonic minor scale is spelled A-C-D-E-G. The pentatonic minor scale is the one most used in blues and rock music. The first-position pentatonic in A starts on the fifth fret of the sixth string. The first note is the root note. The pattern is A(sixth string/fifth fret), C (sixth string/eighth fret), D (fifth string/fifth fret), E (fifth fret/seventh fret), G (fourth string/fifth fret), A (fourth string/seventh fret), C (third string/fifth fret), D (third string/seventh fret), E (second string/fifth fret), G (second string/eighth fret), A (first string/fifth fret) and C (first string/eighth fret).
Analyze the fingering for the above scale. The sixth, second and first strings use the same pattern and the fifth, fourth and third strings share the same pattern. As mentioned above, the first note on the sixth string is the root note. When the pattern starts on the fifth fret of the sixth string, you are in the key of A. If you move the pattern down a whole step and start on the third fret, you are in G. If you move the pattern up a half step and start at the sixth fret, you are in B-flat.
Learn the second pattern of the pentatonic scale. The second pattern is C (sixth string/eighth fret), D (sixth string/10th fret), E (fifth string/seventh fret), G (fifth string/10th fret), A (fourth string/seventh fret), C (fourth string/10th fret), D (third string/seventh fret), E (third string/ninth fret), G (second string/eighth fret), A (second string/10th fret), C (first string/eighth fret), and D (first string/10th fret).
Analyze the scale to determine the starting point. The first note is C, which is the minor third of the A minor scale. Starting the scale on the minor third and using the fingering described above allows you to play the pentatonic scale in a particular key. Move the pattern down a whole step and start it at the sixth fret. This note is Bb rather than C. Bb is the minor third of G, so you are now playing in the key of G.
Learn the other three patterns of the pentatonic scale. They contain the same exact notes, A-C-D-E-G, and they follow each other in a sequential order. The third pattern starts on D (sixth string/10th fret). The fourth pattern starts on E (sixth string/12th fret) and the fifth pattern starts on G (sixth string/15th fret).
Practice combining the scales. The pentatonic scale makes it easy to play in one position of the fretboard. The scale forms boxes that frame the notes within a two-, three- and four-fret radius. One way of moving up and down the fretboard is to combine the boxes. A typical blues guitar lick is to play "A" on the fifth fret of the first string, followed by "A" on the tenth fret of the second string. You are moving from the first position to the second position. The two notes are both the same but the tonal properties of the second string and first string are different because the thickness, or gauge, of the two strings are different. The second string is thicker, causing the "A" on the second string to resonate differently than the "A" on the first string.
Move the first-position pattern up and down the fretboard to achieve different effects. One nifty trick is start the pattern at a different place on the fretboard while playing over the same chords. For example, the A pentatonic minor scale, A-C-D-E-G, becomes a major pentatonic scale simply by starting it 1 1/2 steps lower at the second rather than fifth fret of the sixth string. You are playing the same pattern but the notes are actually F# -A - B- C# -E. This is the F# minor pentatonic scale but it contains the same notes as the A major pentatonic scale, which is A-B-C#-E-F#. The major pentatonic scale sounds "happier" than the minor pentatonic scale. It is often used by country players.