How to Practice the Minor Pentatonic Scale without Box Patterns

Learn pentatonic box patterns. - Check!
Practice boxes incessantly - Check!

Stuck in the box and can't seem to find a way out?

Lately, I've been practicing my scales in a way that is box interesting and helps me avoid getting caught in the box traps on the guitar neck.

I do this by practicing the scale on one string, up the neck and down the neck. What happens when you do that is that you connect the intervals visually with the guitar. So much is lost in those boxes as far as the musical structure of the scale. Playing on one string makes it a little easier to learn the musical difference (intervals) between notes. And that is the real backbone of the scale. Unlocking that will help you break out of those frustrating boxes for good.

I mentioned that I have a little fun when I practice this way too. Check out the video and see my improvisation using only the D Minor Pentatonic Scale in action. It's an interesting and fun way to practice your scales. Plus, it's fun to see just what you can do with only one string!

For more details about this lesson, including a TAB for this way of playing the D Minor Pentatonic Scale, check out:

bluesguitarinstitute.com/a-different-approach-t…

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Play On!

John