Pentatonic Box 1 — Up and Down
Am pentatonic box 1 at 5th position played ascending all 6 strings, then descending back. The foundation of every pentatonic solo. Slow and even — every note rings clean.
Tablature
First few measures of the exercise.
How to Practice
- 1All notes are Am pentatonic box 1 at the 5th fret. Index finger covers fret 5, pinky covers fret 7 or 8.
- 2Ascend from string 6 (low E) to string 1 (high e), then descend back to string 6.
- 3Use strict alternate picking (↓↑↓↑) throughout. Start with a downstroke.
- 4Accent every note equally — no note should be quieter than the others.
- 5Start at 60 BPM. Let each note ring fully before moving to the next.
Tips & Techniques
- •One finger per fret: index on fret 5, ring on fret 7, pinky on fret 8. Never use the same finger for two adjacent frets.
- •The string crossings (especially inside crossings) are where timing breaks. Slow down if a crossing stumbles.
- •Keep fretting fingers close to the strings — no flying fingers.
- •The turnaround (top of string 1) is where most players rush. Treat it like any other note.
- •This shape is movable: at fret 7 it's Bm, at fret 12 it's Em. Learn the shape, not the position.
Ready to Practice?
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