Two Simple Shapes UNLOCK the Pentatonic Scale EVERYWHERE - and make it MORE musical!

Use two simple geometric shapes to instantly find the major and minor pentatonic scales anywhere on the fretboard. In this video, you'll also learn how to make pentatonic scales sound like *music* rather than scales, how to instantly turn them into blues and hexatonic scales, and how to fluently move within these scales up, down, and across the fretboard. This video is jam-packed with useful insights. It really is the ONLY pentatonic scale lesson you will EVER need.

► Keywords: guitar lesson, pentatonic scales, blues scale, hexatonic scale, music theory, major scale modes, Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Phrygian

► Gear I use and recommend (affiliate links):

► Recommended video viewing order:

Individual videos:

► Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction/overview
01:27 - Introducing the rectangle and the stack
02:35 - Building scales on the fly
04:50 - Making it sound like music
07:01 - Extending to the hexatonic and blues scales
08:03 - Horizontal movement
09:21 - Connecting to the major scale modes

► Thanks again to Dave DiCenso, Jeff Gilman, and Jake Shapiro for the intro/exit music "Sea Horses" from the Kilgore Trout Sessions.

[fretscience]

If you're new to the channel, I'd like to offer a warm welcome!
🎸🧪🤘

[TomKaszuba]

I have watched this multiple times. I can’t tell you how valuable this is. A perfect explanation that makes sense and opens up endless possibilities. Extremely well presented in voice, visuals and pacing. As good as it gets. Thank you very much.

[LittleLunaFox]

Holy crap…someone give this man a medal or some kind of award! This is gold!

Something you maybe want to point out in your videos that you kind of skip over is how your shifting up and down takes advantage of the fact that the top and bottom strings are both E strings, and will therefore always have the same “pattern” on them and that is how you can “fill in” the notes as you shift a pattern up or down. That took me a second to figure out.

[Trutzy]

I can't believe it! It's like finding the holy grail of guitar instructional videos.
This is the video I was hoping for when I clicked on the last 50, 000 Youtube guitar videos!
I just bought the cheat sheet pack and now I'm ready to stop "searching" and start "working".
Thank you Keith!

[chinapaulo]

I’ve been playing the guitar for 30 years, and this lesson has completely changed how I understand the geometry of the fretboard. Absolute breakthrough moment. The scale forms we memorize are “true”, but they’re derived from the underlying pattern!

[Chris_Nouvelli]

Within the space of four videos, Fret Science has quickly won my ‘Favourite New Channel’ accolade. What truly brilliant resources you’ve provided. I’ll certainly be going to buy the PDFs. Many thanks.

[fredtaylor]

Seriously, I cannot express in words how your method of teaching is infinitely better at showing us what is actually happening on the fretboard. Why do so many other "beginner" lessons fail to even explain that the notes of one string continue onto the next every 5 notes? That seems like the FIRST thing you'd want to teach! The visuals are a language that's universal. Please, please understand that, from the very bottom of this complete stranger's heart, I truly do thank you for sharing your knowledge in this manner. I know it takes work to do it!

[jjolson]

This is so good. After 30 years of playing by ear in cover bands, I’m finally trying to actually learn the fretboard the way I should have years ago. This logical framework is brilliant, and so much better than rote memorization. The animations are excellent. I purchased every PDF you offer — keep this great stuff coming!

[keithlamontdavis]

This is how I've viewed the fretboard for decades. I can't believe this isn't how it's always taught. People love to over complicate things.

[timmodelp]

this is literally the best explanation i have ever seen! i have been playing since 16. i am 46 now and just trying to make my way through note identification on the guitar and understand better. i have never been taught this way and i get it now from all of your guidance on your channel. thank you so much brother. i really appreciate you and your work

[adamf.]

Finally. I knew this framework existed but lacked the experience to work it out myself. I’ve been searching for years without fully understanding what it is I’ve been looking for. Thank you.

[BrettRhodesLCSW]

Brilliant! I've been studying guitar for a little over 2 years now and your approach to the shapes of the pentatonic scales is finally getting me over that hurdle of being able to visualize all of this information all over the fretboard while I'm playing. Thank you! It's just so good.

On top of that, you've given me a whole new way to travel horizontally ("the other diagonal") that I've not seen or heard mentioned anywhere else. I'm really looking forward to jamming with that pattern to find out all the goodies hidden therein.

Huge thank you for making this material available. You're on to something very powerful here. Please keep going and please keep sharing. You're helping to fill the world with beautiful music. A worthy endeavor indeed!

[tonyjones]

Excellent video! I memorized the 5 minor pentatonic boxes in a very “rote” way. The not-so-good news is, I use them the same way …always starting from the sixth string even if I don’t play a note. This is another cell block of the dreaded “scale jail.” This video might be the file in the cake…Subscribed!

[ardennenwijzer]

This is the most value lesson on YT to understand the pent. scales and their shape relation. No nonsense, no blahblah en show off. Great! Thank you so much Fret Science 🙂

[AbrasionUK]

This is the single most valuable video on pentatonics I've ever seen. Revelation.

[godofwar]

I cannot express how grateful I am for this video. This made it all click and within 30 minutes I could connect the entire neck of the guitar based on this structuring! Great videos!!😊

[StringTheorywithDR]

This channel is absolutely brilliant. Beautifully presented. A true gem.

[josephelsberry]

This is an absolute game changer!! I started playing with this yesterday and I’m having so many revelations of the fretboard. Finally!!

[thegreatmadhatter]

This series might be the best one I have ever watched about scales / notes on the guitar. Extremely helpful, thank you!!!

[skippy]

I know the patterns pretty well but this is really helping me know the intervals and how to get modal flavor by adding to the boxes. So cool!