Blues guitar lesson

Pentatonic scale licks

Blues guitar licks


The blues pentatonic scales are iconic to most guitar players.
They are the scales which most of us use to get started. Finding the bends
trills and runs which make these scales so expressive to use.
Always a musical adventure


Blues music consists of primarily 12 bar repetitions, using the root, the fourth
and fifth notes of the scale. For this example the key is A, the fourth will be a D
and the fifth is E. It works as follows.
Four bars in A
Two bars in D
Two bars in A
One bar in E
One bar in D
One bar in A
and the final bar in E.


The Licks


The video for this lesson works in the following manner. We have created
an instrumental passage which covers a complete 12 bar blues progression.
This progression is played through twice at speed
The passage has been broken down into individual phrases.
Each phrase is repeated several times slowly to show how it was played.
Then a couple of backings at speed are made available for you to play along.
There is also a final recap of each phrase.


The view the video click here


Scales Position One


We are using it at the key of A for ease of reference. As it’s a well
used scale position in blues.. This scale can be be found with the root note on the
fifth fret of the sixth string at the A note.


The illustration below shows the pattern.
Starting with the root note, they will be
A and C on the E string.
D and E on the A string.
G and A on the D string

C and D on the G string.
E and G on the B string.
A and C on the E string.

The opening lick is a standard piece of blues vocabulary and comes
from the scale above. It starts with a full tone bend on the G string.
Bend the D note at the 5th fret up to an E tone.
Then going up the scale, play the E and A notes on the second
and first strings at the 5th fret.
Followed by another full tone bend

on the B string on the G note 6th fret.
Bend the G up to an A tone.
The single note run down is as follows,
a single E note on the B string 5th fret
D and C notes on the G string 7th and 5th frets
Finishing with a double pick on the D string at the A note 5th fret.

Scale Position Two


The second position pentatonic, this scale can be be found with the root
note on the eigth fret of the sixth string at the C note.


The illustration below shows the pattern.
Starting with the root note, they will be

C and D on the E string.
E and G on the A string.
A and C on the D string
D and E on the G string.
G and A on the B string.
C and D on the E string.

The second lick comes from the notes of this scale and
starts with a slide from the D to E notes on the G string
5th to 7th frets.
Then a two note run up the scale on the B string.
Play the G and A notes at the 8th and 10th frets.
Then hit the C note on the E string at the 8th fret.


The second part of this lick is a simple one string statement
Play the E string at the D note 10th fret once
On the same note play a full tone bend up to the E.
Then bring the bend down and holding the D note.
Play the C D then C notes on the 7th and 9th frets of the first string.


Lick Three is a repetition of lick one

Scale Position Three


The third position pentatonic can be be found with the root note
on the tenth fret of the sixth string at the D note.

The illustration below shows the pattern.
Starting with the root note, they will be
D and E on the E string.
G and A on the A string.
C and D on the D string
E and G on the G string.
A and C on the B string.
D and E on the E string.

The fourth lick comes directly from the notes of this scale.
Using the illustration above, the first note is played on the B string
at the A note on the 10th fret. Moves up the scale to the C note
on the 13th fret of the B string.
Moving to the E string the next note is the D at the 10th fret
finishing on the E note at the 12th fret


Lick Five is simply a one string statement which runs down the scale.
Carrying on from where lick four ended.
Play the E note at the 12th fret on the E string twice.
Move down to the D at the 10th fret
Down to the C at the 8th fret
Then back to the D 10th fret.


The Lick Six contains the opening statement from lick one.

Then runs up the scale from the A note 7th fret on the D string.

To the C note 5th fret G string
To the D note 7th fret G string
to the E note 9th fret G string


Lick Seven

This comes at the end of the progression and is simply Lick 6
reversed. Instead of going up the scale. It contains the same notes
coming down the scale

As an exercise try working through the scales and licks at different positions.
Using different keys.

This study was created in conjunction from our
Blues Guitar Pentatonic Scales lesson

For further details on the full course please see the link below.

Blues Guitar Course