Like what to do in the key of F (4th string, 3rd fret) and follow that with 5 minor pentatonic notes in the Key of F? What box is that??
If you go left from
any 4th string root you will always be in Box 1, just as we discussed earlier in A. If you go to the right you will be in Box 2.
You actually already started to answer your own question.
Still using A minor pentatonic.
If you look at Box 1 as a lower right-facing 1 octave pattern on strings 6 to 4, it then becomes a left-facing 1 octave pattern starting on the upper note (A) on the 4th string to the A on the 1st string.
Those are the only 2 patterns you need. One going to the right and one going to the left.
From any note anywhere on the fretboard you can play either to the right or left using these 1 octave patterns.
(Yes, always compensating for the extra fret on the B string. However, that doesn't affect the intervals between any of the notes.)
Whichever you choose,
your direction will reverse after completing an octave when playing vertically across the neck.
(Actually, you reverse direction every note you play.
)
Again, in Box 1 you start with a right-facing octave, then a left-facing octave above it.
To the left of Box 1 you have Box 5. It is just the reverse.
You have the left-facing octave on the bottom which will become a right-facing octave when you get to the A on the 3rd string.
Whether you play Box 1 or Box 5, you still start on A on the 6th string and end up 2 octaves higher on the first string.
(Box 5 has an "extra" G on the bottom and Box 1 has an "extra" C on top.)
In Box 2 you will have a complete right-facing octave from the 4th to 2nd string. So you have part of a left-facing octave below and part of another left-facing octave above.
They always alternate as you work vertically within a box.
In Box 3 you have a complete left-facing octave from the 5th string to the 2nd. Which means you have part of a right-facing octave coming in from below and another continuing on above it. Note that this connects with Box 2 to the left which has just the opposite configuration.
This will connect to Box 4, which will be most similar to Box 1 because you have the exact same right-facing pattern, but from the 5th string.
This means you only have 1 string of a left-facing pattern below (6th string) and all but 1 string of the left-facing pattern above, i.e. you lose the A to C on top.
As beginners we all learn the "Boxes".
As more "advanced" players, the goal is to be able to play to the left or right from any note in any scale (or chord) anywhere on the neck.
I find written explanations like this nearly impossible to follow.
It's actually easier for me to make a video.
Which I will do later after spending the rest of the day riding my bicycle on this very warm day in the Northeast.