If you know the Major Pentatonic/Blues Scale, chances are you only know it from a 6th string root, which is fine until you need one from a 5th string root…

Here is a great trick to use a chord shape that you probably use all the time, and good old box 1, which you probably know the best, to quickly “see” the Major Pentatonic/Blues sound and grab it right away.

As some sidebar fun, I’ll pretty much show you how to play “Gimme Three Steps” by Lynyrd Skynyrd because the chord progression lends itself really well to this type of playing.

Enjoy!

Download this video HERE


    24 replies to "Finding Major Pentatonics From A Shape Barre Chords"

    • Louie

      I had figured some of the HOW on my own, now I have a better grasp of the WHY along with some other cool tips. Been following you since before it was BGU, you have a gift for teaching !

    • A.lan H

      Good one Griff. I picked up a couple of cool licks, thanks

    • James Par

      Are there more relationships like this? I find it easier to know the barre chord and what maj and min pentatonic boxes are underneath your fingers.

    • Richard Kendrick

      Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to say that the D chord is from the G shape in the CAGED system since the root note in box 1 is on the 6th string?

    • Randy Andrews

      Looking for all kinds of free lessons I can get .I’m a beginner guitar player. Not working because of this coronavirus epidemic. So if anyone can send some beginner lessons I’d appreciate everything

    • Mike

      Very nice lesson. Very clever was to expose the CAGED system to a very well known song. Wish I’d known this stuff 40 years ago. Thanks again for opening our eyes a little wider !!!

    • HotLks

      I hear Honky Tonk Woman played in open tuning in there.

      • pete

        I immediately heard Honky Tonk woman as well. Maybe Griff’s too young to remember that.

    • Klivvy UK

      Suddenly you realize what a complicated instalment the guitar is unless you know the shortcuts that make it easier to play. Another brilliant lesson Griff, Thanks Klivvy UK.

    • Rox

      Would be helpful if there was tab along with video. Hard for me to discern what your fingers are doing.
      Also, I own most of your courses. It would be great if you did more of these email lessons on your Rock Guitar Unleased course.
      You are the best Internet teacher as you have the printed manuals as well as the DVDS! Most don’t offer these options.
      Just wanted to chime in with my thoughts today.
      Thanks, Griff

    • Brian

      I really enjoyed the lesson which reinforced some of the things I have been working on: 1st position pentatonic scale with bend of G string a whole step up is the shape of the root chord if top note is trout note, in this case, D; licks are transferable from 1, D, to 4 chord, A, and using the A shape for the root chord D is the shape base for the riffs and runs. Good lesson, thanks Griff.

      • Brian

        Root note, not trout, not fishing season yet!

    • Jim Russell (UK)

      Hi Griff
      Another brilliant lesson, a little over my head yet but I (roughly) understand.
      I could listen to that playing all day.
      I personally think it’s great that you don’t play that tune exactly the same as the original or it would just be a copy rather than a cover if you see what I mean.
      If you cover a song, you have to put your own twist on it and play it your way otherwise just listen to the original.

    • Steve Fahle

      Great lesson. Real world example pulls it together nicely.

    • Jeff Clesius aka Swiss Elk

      Wow! I watched this three times. Theory in the context of a song I know – suddenly, I could hear the lights flashing and see the bells ringing (you know what I mean!). Use the CAGED system to ‘root’ the boxes to their key (duh!), what a powerful concept. Time to revisit the boxes, one by one and plant into my brain where the root is for each box, maybe using a particular string or strings for the box (major and minor) and the chord shape as a guide. Seemed so daunting before this video.. now, not so much!

      Thanks Griff,
      Jeff (Swiss)

    • Kimberley

      Hi Griff
      Well I watched this, over my head, but is this true? That you can play box 1 at different places up and down the neck, or just at 5th fret starting at A on the 6th string?

      • Ricardo

        Yes, boxes (and CAGED barre chords) are moveable.

        Wherever you “anchor” box 1 on the 6th string, your 1st finger is on the minor root and your pinky is on the relative Major root.

        For example, 1st finger at the 5th fret is A minor/C Major.
        Moved down to the 3rd fret, G minor/Bb Major
        Even in open position, E minor/G Major.

        And of course you can move up the fretboard as well.
        B minor/D Major, C minor/Eb Major, D minor/F Major, etc.

    • Chicago Charlie

      Stuff from the video and random association:

      the 3 and 2 pattern [ major ]

      The CAGE Method

      The Little Wing Lesson
      If you are having trouble with major – minor scale connections, this lesson might be well worth looking into. This was a problem area for me and this lesson opened the connection for me.

    • Lynne

      Many thanks for the Blues Scale Training Tool…..it really works!!! All of your courses are excellent as well as your email lessons. I just wish that I were a bigger Blues fan. You are a born teacher….thanks for your huge contribution to my guitar experience.

    • Bob S.

      G’morning Griff, I’m getting an error message when I try to view the video online. Your pal, Bob S

      • Bob S

        Had no problem launching it from the email though. Great lesson, as always. You’re magical as far as unlocking the fretboard, my friend. Thanks. Bob S.

    • eieio

      Thanks Griff, using box 1 below the Barr chord is great.

    • Morris Cooper

      Brilliant!
      Thanks. 😊

      • Tom

        Thanks for helping to open my eyes and my mind. It doesn’t come easy for me, but you add clarity.
        Thanks
        Tom

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