The 5th Position Guitar Lesson
The 5th Position
The 5th and final pattern of the minor pentatonic and minor blues scales is taught in this lesson. After teaching the pattern, Brad discusses the best way to practice all five patterns.
Taught by Brad Henecke in Rock Guitar with Brad Henecke seriesLength: 13:05Difficulty: 2.5 of 5
Take a look at the fingering for both the pentatonic and blues scales. Notice where the b5 blues note occurs. Once again, a yellow circle indicates the blues note. An additional blues note can be added on the 6th fret of the A string. Fret this note with the pinky finger.
The left hand fingering for this box is relatively simple. The first fingering that Brad demonstrates is the fingering that should be used when practicing the scale However, an alternate fingering of the scale is used more frequently in the course of a solo. Alternate scale fingerings were introduced in the written portion of the previous lesson. The alternate fingering is used for several reasons. It is easier to transition into other positions of the pentatonic scale from this fingering. This fingering is more conducive to bending strings. Lastly, it is much easier to play high up on the fretboard using this fingering. Watch Brad improvise at the beginning of this lesson. He switches this alternate fingering to prepare for string bends.
Watch carefully as Brad plays through each scale. He begins with the blues scale and moves on to the pentatonic pattern.
Note: Open the “Supplemental Content” tab for the alternate fingering of the 5th pentatonic/blues box. Use this fingering when improvising. Chapter 3: (1:45) Learning and Practicing the Scales Your first priority when learning any new scale is to identify the notes that make up the scale. Then, memorize the fretboard pattern for the scale. At this point, you have learned all five positions of the pentatonic/blues scale in the key of A minor. Continue to practice improvising over a 12 bar blues backing track with these scales.
Eventually you need to learn these scales in all 12 possible keys. You must also be able to improvise comfortably within these keys. In the blues and rock genres, A, E, and G are very popular keys to play in. For this reason, you should begin working on these keys once you feel comfortable with the key of A.
Here are some additional tips from Brad that will help you with scales:
1. Play each scale very slowly. If you only practice scales at high tempos, you rely primarily upon muscle memory to keep track of where each note is. Practicing scales slowly helps to cement information in more locations of the brain.Chapter 4: (3:39) More Positions Both the first, fourth, and fifth boxes of the pentatonic scale can be played in two octaves on the neck. If you have enough frets, you can play the second box in two different octaves as well. By shifting a pattern up or down 12 frets, its octave changes. Earlier in the lesson, Brad demonstrated the 5th position pattern in its higher octave. This pattern can also be played 12 frets lower. As Brad illustrates through his improvisation, a pentatonic pattern can be played in any position of the neck.
2. Always practice scales with a metronome! Slowly increase the tempo as you become more comfortable. Eventually, you will need to be able to improvise in any tempo range.
Supplemental Learning Material
Rock Guitar with Brad Henecke
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsIn this Phase 2 series Brad Henecke will school you in the art of rock guitar. You will not only learn how to play some of your favorite songs in this series, but you will also learn how to create your own.
Lesson 1
Basic Rock Guitar
This lesson covers the absolute basics of rock guitar. Learn about the electric guitar, pickups, amplifiers, changing strings, and more.
Length: 52:09 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Learning Chords
The first step of your rock guitar experience is learning some of the more popular chords and that is what this lesson is all about.
Length: 42:30 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Barre Chords and More
Brad Henecke introduces common strumming patterns and barre chords.
Length: 42:23 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Your First Song
In this lesson Brad covers some of the more advanced barre chord shapes. He applies these shapes to the song "Hotel California."
Length: 41:31 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Blues and Scales
Rock has its roots in the blues. Brad helps you explore the wonderful world of blues in this lesson. He also covers some chord theory.
Length: 48:14 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Tricks and Lead
This lesson is all about specific techniques used by lead guitarists.
Length: 52:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Jammin With Scales
This lesson details how to improvise with the blues scale.
Length: 27:27 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
3 Songs
In this fun lesson, Brad Henecke teaches you riffs from 3 classic rock songs.
Length: 28:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Power Chords
Power chords help give rock music that "punch you in the face" feel. Learn basic power chords in this lesson.
Length: 13:22 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
2 New Songs
Are you ready to learn "Ain't Talking About Love" by Van Halen and "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC? That's what this lesson is all about.
Length: 27:32 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Pentatonic Scale
In this lesson Brad teaches the first pattern of the minor pentatonic scale and explains how it relates to the blues scale.
Length: 14:30 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Second Position
Brad covers the second pattern for both the minor blues and minor pentatonic scales.
Length: 9:07 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Message in a Bottle
Learn the classic rock song "Message in a Bottle."
Length: 10:22 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Third Position
This great lesson covers the 3rd fretboard pattern of the minor pentatonic and minor blues scales.
Length: 7:19 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Colorful Chord Tension
Brad demonstrates how open strings can be added to chord shapes you are already familiar with.
Length: 9:09 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
The 4th Position
Brad covers the 4th pattern of the minor pentatonic and minor blues scales.
Length: 8:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Daytripper
In this lesson Brad demonstrates how to play the Beatles song "Daytripper."
Length: 15:21 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
The 5th Position
Brad demonstrates the 5th pattern of the minor pentatonic and minor blues scales. He also discusses practicing and memorizing them.
Length: 13:05 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
"Brown Eyed Girl"
Learn the classic rock song "Brown Eyed Girl" in this episode of Rock Guitar.
Length: 11:23 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Phrasing
Brad introduces you to the importance of phrasing. Quality phrasing is essential when performing any melodic line.
Length: 14:19 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Basics of Tapping
Tapping is an idiomatic guitar technique that offers a unique sound.
Length: 14:34 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Intro to Modes
Learning the modes is essential to the development of your scale vocabulary.
Length: 31:04 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Understanding Chord Shapes
Brad further explains what chord shapes are and how they relate to barre chords.
Length: 10:15 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Natural Harmonics
Learn the right and left hand mechanics involved in playing harmonics.
Length: 13:16 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Advanced Harmonics
Brad covers more advanced harmonic techniques such as harp harmonics, pinch harmonics and tap harmonics.
Length: 16:10 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
The Dorian Mode
Brad moves on in his modal lesson series to explain the Dorian mode. Includes 2 backing tracks.
Length: 22:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Phrygian Mode
Brad explains and demonstrates the Phrygian mode.
Length: 13:33 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
The Lydian mode
Brad continues his discussion of the modes. You will learn the Lydian mode in this lesson.
Length: 9:27 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Mixolydian Mode
Brad explains the Mixolydian mode and its practical applications.
Length: 10:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
The Aeolian Mode
Continuing with his modal lessons, Brad Henecke teaches the Aeolian mode.
Length: 9:09 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
The Locrian Mode
The final lesson in our modal series covers the Locrian mode.
Length: 9:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
The Ace Zone
Brad teaches some licks inspired by Ace Frehley of KISS. Incorporate these licks into your own solos.
Length: 7:18 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Learn Licks
In this lesson Brad Henecke teaches you some fun licks that can be used in your own guitar solos.
Length: 10:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Blues Licks
Brad Henecke demonstrates some cool blues licks.
Length: 17:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Modes and Scales
Brad Henecke provides an alternate way of comparing modes and scales.
Length: 8:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
A Different View
In the last lesson, Brad Henecke compared some scales that are major or dominant in quality. Now, he repeats this process with minor scales.
Length: 7:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
One String Scales
This lesson is all about 1 string scales. Learning scales on 1 string is essential to your knowledge of the fretboard.
Length: 8:34 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
One String Ionian Mode
Brad demonstrates a one string version of the Ionian mode. This lesson demonstrates the importance of horizontal scales.
Length: 7:27 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Aeolian Mode on One String
Brad continues his discussion of single string scales. He explains how to play the Aeolian mode across a single string.
Length: 4:11 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Octave Scales
Brad explains how to locate octaves within scale patterns. He demonstrates a cool lick that involves playing simultaneous octaves.
Length: 7:07 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Using Octaves
Brad explains how to use octaves in the context of an exercise. Octaves can also be used to build effective licks.
Length: 5:18 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Harmonic Minor Scale
Brad introduces the harmonic minor scale. He explains how it can be applied to the solo break in "Sweet Child O' Mine."
Length: 7:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Learning by Ear
Brad Henecke provides valuable tips regarding the process of learning songs by ear.
Length: 23:00 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Ear Training Game
Improve your ear training by playing "The Tone Is Right" with Brad Henecke.
Length: 29:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Diminished Arpeggio
Brad Henecke explains diminished chords and provides a fun diminished arpeggio exercise.
Length: 19:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Understanding Time Signatures
Brad Henecke addresses time signatures.
Length: 10:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Diminished Chords
Brad Henecke explains the construction of diminished seventh chords. He also provides a diminished chord exercise.
Length: 10:30 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Open G Tuning
Brad Henecke introduces open G tuning in this lesson.
Length: 23:50 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Drop D Tuning
Brad Henecke introduces drop D tuning in this lesson. He explains many advantages of this tuning.
Length: 12:57 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
G Major Pentatonic
Brad Henecke teaches the G major pentatonic scale. He demonstrates all 5 patterns and explains how they can be transposed to any key.
Length: 22:50 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Changing Scales with Chords
In this lesson Brad Henecke talks about changing the pentatonic/blues scales with each chord in a chord progression.
Length: 11:08 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Mixolydian Scale and Chords
Brad will show how to use the Mixolydian scale with a blues chord progression.
Length: 6:56 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Gear and Effects
This lesson is all about gear and effects. Brad begins his discussion with power conditioning and removing hiss from your amplifier. He progresses to discuss a plethora of effects pedals. Brad explores...
Length: 52:48 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
The Wah Pedal
In this lesson, Brad Henecke introduces the wah pedal and demonstrates its many applications.
Length: 15:53 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
About Brad Henecke
View Full Biography
Brad Henecke was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on May 5th of 1963. He has been a fan of music for as long as he & his family can remember. You could always find him running around the farm wailing on his cardboard guitar, pretending to be a member of the rock band KISS. Additional inspiration came during his first concert when he got the chance to see Boston & Sammy Hagar in the early 1970's.
This opened up a whole new world of rock and roll music for him; his parents noticed his growing interest in music and enrolled him into guitar lessons when he was 13.
From there he jumped into two years of lessons at a local music store in Cedar Rapids. After discovering Eddie Van Halen, Brad knew that the
guitar would always be a part of his life. He took his love throughout the city as he played as a pit musician & jammed at parties for friends.
This made him thirsty for more. He enrolled classes at Kirkwood Community College & also took lessons from the one & only Craig-Erickson (www.craig-erickson.com).
His love for music landed him a gig opening for Molly Hatchet in Cedar Rapids with a band called "Slap & Tickle". He has also played in the Greeley
Stampede show for quite a few years with "True North".
Brad is currently playing in Greeley, Colorado with a rock band titled "Ragged Doll". They play a wide variety of music with an emphasis on
classic rock from the 60's to present, with Brad playing electric guitar in the five piece lineup.
He currently jams on his all-time favorite guitar: a Paul Reed Smith Custom 24. Beyond guitar, he plays also plays drums & bass guitar. He has
also been known to thrash a banjo from time to time. He is still actively playing & passing his 31 years of playing experience on to others (you!).
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Brad... I played guitar from when I was 13 to my mid 20's and gave it up 'cause life got in the way. Took a 30 year break. Picked up a Strat about a year ago. Took lessons. Bought books. Not until I found you did I REALLY start to get it together. Your blues and pentatonic scales will keep me playing (I hope) forever...or at least until my fingers stop working! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Ok..I have learned all 5 positions of the Pent. Scale and these refer to A minor and C, correct? If I moved the first position down two frets, would that then cover G minor and A major? Can all the positions be transposed up and down the neck?
Yep, you can move them up and down the entire neck. The root note of the box pattern tells you which of the scales you are playing, so as long as you know that you can freely play these scales anywhere on the neck of the guitar.
Hi.I was shown the A minor pent in 5 boxes,same as here but my box 2 is your box 1 till it gets to box 5 and its the same as my box one except im on the 3rd fret low E and youir on the 15th fret low e to start the pattern.I hope this is not confuseing .Whats goingon Brad.I hope the person showing me this knows the scale.I have no doubt you do.Thanks for great lessons !
oh ok ty Brad.And each box can be moved up and down right? If thats true then learning these scales opens up the fret board big time.Thanks again for the great lessons !
That is correct these scales are movable to any key .That opens up a big door for you ! :)
It sounds like the same scales they just started in a different place .They call what I call the 5th scale ,the first scale .Its just where they decided to start .I hope that helps .
Hi Brad. In the 1:st postition you play the Bluenote D# twice. But in the fifth position you go direct from D to E in the beginning of the scale. Why
you can add the D# Blue note .It's in the scale . no real reason for not adding it just a over look .
Good comment you made there brad: listen to other peoples music and adapt to their style and then make it your own. Thats the way to go
yes you got it ! That first position scale root note on the 6th string tells you the hole story .On the 5th fret (A) On the 3rd Fret Its (G) And on the 7th fret its (B). Good Job !
So all 5 of those positions was for the Am Blues Scale? To make it a Gm Blues scale would you just shift everything down two frets to the G? Or a Bm scale, shift up two frets? Etc.