Extending Box 1 Pentatonic
Okay… so I can hear it now, “why on earth do we need ANOTHER way to look at the pentatonic scale?”
It’s my simple mantra that you’ll hear me say over and over and over again, “The more ways you have to look at the same group of notes, the better off you’ll be.”
For some people, one way just clicks better than the others. For some people, a different way just clicks. So as your teacher it’s my job to put as many possibilities in front of you so that you can grab bits and pieces of what works for you and put it to use.
This particular pattern is very common when I look at solos by Clapton, SRV, and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top. In fact, I’d say that with box 1 and these extensions, you probably cover about 85-90% of what those guys play. So it’s worth your time 
Downloads
This Video (MP4)Mac users should use the MP4 version to download the video
- This Video (WMV)
Windows users should use the WMV version to download this video.
If you need it, here’s the TAB for it.
Cheers Griff
For the lesson its opening up my fretboard to me and helping me to connect the boxes
Simply awesome
thanks for all the free lessons
Very nice, thank you Griff for the insight.
Funny, I’m self taught and have been doing that note thing for ever not even realizing it’s those scale notes..
Thanks Griff…good stuff! simple and effective!!
The more I learn, the more I find that I don’t know!
Repeating fingering patterns like this help me to connect with the Major-Minor Blues Shapes showing how the patterns consistently repeat….Thank Griff
Excellent lesson… helps put some ‘logic’ to transition between boxes, and opens up the fingerboard to new patterns. Thanks!
I like it
This is a good lesson Griff, Thank you
Hey Griff,
I have used this pattern (self taught) for over 35 years. In fact I never even knew about the “boxes” until you started sending me emails! I’m so glad to know I wasn’t “cheating”, just finding a different way to get some of the same sounds I heard others playing. As always, you tie everything together and help us all make more sense of the whole area. THANK YOU!
Me too I thought I was cheating till Griff set me straight.
This is the way I always play. Except for box one I don’t know any of the others in their entirety across the neck. No need! Sorry to say that with all the effort yourself and others put in to teach them 🙂
Griff, thanks. At first I thought this was the same stuff I’ve done before. But Hammering on the Blue Note is something I haven’t done before and it is pretty cool.
Thanks!
Hey Griff. That’s Minor Pentatonic Scale gotten over the Three Boxes. Now, how about the Major Pentatonic Scale?
When you use the scale without the blue notes it is major, and when you add the blue notes it becomes minor, right?
Looks like I better review my major / minor course.
no what creates the Major/minor sound is wether you use a C or a C#. Albert King when singing would end his phrase on the major 3rd, the C # for example, very effective for singing and playing
Always learn something and it keeps me on track. Thanks so much for the daily lessons Griff. couldn’t do it without you.
By far the best lesson I had in the last few months, thanks. It opens up my mind…and my fretboard.
Nice Griff. Good stuff you make it look so easy and I find it so difficult
Thanks for the lesson. Question: how to play this on an acoustic guitar if the guitar doesn’t have the means to play frets above fret #14? (No cutouts like electric guitars have on the body)?
Hey Griff,
Great refresh of this lesson back in 2015. Also I have been sliding between the 5 boxes in Am as well experimenting.
I am recovering from cataract surgery -Left eye last week so can’t do too much at present for next couple of weeks or so but still looking at your great video lessons.
Michael-Sydney-Australia
The one who dies with the most toys has to leave them all behind.
Very clear and practical explanation.You are the best Griffin.Thanks. for everything.
Thanks Griff…good stuff!
Excellent lesson Griff…thank you.
Heck yeah!
11/24/18
Great video. Can’t wait to play around with this pattern after work.
Thanks Griff
Excellent lesson, very revealing. Thanks Griff, you’re a great teacher.
I Have at least eleven of your courses, and THIS ONE finally opened my eyes!! Thanks Griff!! I guess I’m just slow!!
So simple the way you explain it. Makes some of the loose pieces fit. Thanks.
Im really starting to see & feel WHY things work really well over certain progressions and not at all over others…Youve REALLY provided me with the TURNKEY solution ive been missing in my playing all these years. Cant Thank you enough Griff.
Its like a damn Lightbulb overtop me. Bink!
Thanks Griff
Hi Griff,
I am in the same boat as Dave V this is the pattern I knew before I learned about the boxes you just have a knack of bringing it all home man, thanks.
Excellent,interesting material.
Thanks Griff.
Excellent, i always used to have problems connecting boxes. Not now.
Thanks Griff.
Graham.
This is a great lesson. Useful and practical. Cuts to the meat of soloing.
This is awesome stuff! It really clicks with me because each shift up the fingerboard happens around a blue note and all of the frettings are two frets away from each other so they “intervals” between fingers are constant. Not something that I would have thought of but very intuitive once you “see” it. Thanks for helping me “see” this.
Always played rhyythim when i had a band. Always wanted to learn to play lead with your courses am now learning tl play lead. Your courses are great. Thanks griff
Nice one Griff l learned something today. – I’ve been playing along time too.Thanks.
Really good stuff, Griff, as always
Brilliant! I have watched lead guitarists use this pattern and wanted to learn how to do it and why it worked. Woo hoo. I’m happy!
Thanks Griff. Another pearl.
Excellent tip. This was a good reminder for me because I was vaguely aware of being able to move up the fret board like that just “free-styling” it. This puts it in proper context to be able to use it on a consistent basis. Thanks a ton, Griff.
Is this not a quick explanation of your 4 note solo system?
Thanks Griff, I learned this a long time ago, but forgot about hammering on the blue note also. This run up the fret board is the biggest single thing a guitarist can learn to feel like you have mastered the fret board. It covers all patterns except pattern #3 down on the open strings, I have to try to land my finger on the nut to figure the open string patterns.pattern#4 in f# is a bit more difficult.
Great lesson, I use this all the time
Great stuff with a really simple, helpful explanation and demonstration. Thanks.
StevieD
Thanks Griff, brilliant. My guitar is really starting to sing.
What I would like to know is… how do you know what lesson I need when I need it….how do you do that…???…..HOW ???
I didn’t find this helpful as, without the theory, how can you revise it? There’s just no explanation as to the reason why it works.
This stuff is taking what I already know and connecting the dots. This is fantastic! It hit me tonight what the flatted 3rd and flatted 7th meant. It fits in with the 1 4 5 concept. I will now be able to take whats in my head onto the guitar. Im glad I bought some of your lessons. Im gonna get them all as they go on sale!
Amazing! I’ve seen this video before and use this stuff all the time but I STILL pick something up every time I see it.
YOU make it easy to understand
THANKS
Great video Griff.
Well worth watching again. I especially like the piano like lick.
Pat
Thanks Griff. Keep these cool little emails coming!
Most excellent!!!
I think that you are very talented teacher with a lot of interest for people who really want to play the guitar…For me it’s not easy… But I falling your instructions. Thanks Griff
I discovered this very pattern only last night. I got it from learning the solo to Let It Be.I insist you give us more ideas like this. Blues meets Rock and Pop!
Thank you!