Major Pentatonic G Shape

Learn how to play the G shaped Major Pentatonic!

This is not an Em pentatonic shape!

The G shaped Major pentatonic, without a doubt the most difficult shape to learn since it looks identical to all guitar players favorite scale:

The Em shaped Minor Pentatonic.

As described in the intro, they look the same, but the intervals differ.

This is the main problem, the difference is so small that you are very likely to be targeting the wrong intervals, purely by habit!

The thing is, the reason it sounds good with minor pentatonic over a minor chord is because of the intervals you play.

To get the same effect in major, you have to find new intervals. The 2 chord loops I – VI focus on this.

Common mistakes in the G shape

Imagine that you are in Am, Em shape, fret 5

Usually, you’ll bend the 3rd string, either from fret 5 (the m3rd) up a semitone (maj 3rd).

Or, you’ll bend the 4th (3rd string fret 7) up a semitone (b5)

In the G shape, this is bending the root out of tune, and the 2nd to a minor 3rd.

Mixing min 3rd and maj 3rd is good, but not like this!

Instead, try bending string 3, fret 7 a tone up, at the same time play string 2, fret 8.

This is what the major pentatonic should sound like.