Licks and Tricks

In the previous lesson of this series, we learned the 5th position of the G minor pentatonic scale and I showed y’all some nice country and bluegrass riffs to get you started with your improvising. Now let’s make it sound even more country by adding in a couple extra “blues” notes. The blues scale is basically the minor pentatonic scale with one extra note added per octave — the sharp 4th or flat 5th degree. With the right combinations, these blues notes will really make your playing sound country and bluegrass. Let’s break down the blues scale, important fill techniques, and six country and bluegrass riffs with tablature.

• Scale Breakdown
• Fill Riffs
• Scale Charts

Up to this point, we’ve studied how you can use the 5th position major scale notes to create country and bluegrass riffs. Next, to make your riffs sound even more country, you need to mix in the 5th position G minor pentatonic scale. In this lesson video, we’re going to learn the 5th position of the G minor pentatonic scale and I’ll show you how to use it with your fill riffs and chord embellishments. In my opinion, the 5th position of the G minor pentatonic scale is the second most important position of the pentatonic scales when you’re playing country and bluegrass.

• Lesson Video
• Scale Charts

In the previous lesson of this series, we learned the 5th position of the G major pentatonic scale and I showed you how to apply this scale to a basic country and bluegrass chord progression. In this lesson, we’re going to start breaking out of the pentatonic scale box using five additional major scale notes. Adding these extra notes is the first step towards making your fill riffs sound more country and bluegrass. I’ll give you some pointers on how you can use the G major scale to create riffs and we’ll also have a tablature download below the video with several nice major scale riffs to get you started!

• Lesson Video
• Scale Charts

The 5th position of the G major pentatonic scale is the most important scale position in country and bluegrass. It’s used all the time to play flatpicking licks and open chord rhythm embellishments. In this guitar lesson video, I’ll show you how to learn and practice the 5th position G major pentatonic scale. Then we’ll go over an easy way you can apply this scale to a basic country and bluegrass chord progression.

• Lesson Video
• Scale Charts