This ActionTab is from the Jamzone where we are looking at how to create cool licks and melodies from scales. If you are happy with the backing chords, then it's time to start playing the scale game. The rules for this game are as follows:

• Learn the E pentatonic minor scale in 2 positions.


• Play out the scale over the backing chords (as we show you) until you are very familiar with the note locations of the scale on the fretboard, and the feel of it.


• Play ONLY the notes from this E pentatonic minor scale!


• Always ascend (go up in pitch) through the scale during the E5 backing chords.


• When ascending, always play the G note over the G5 backing chord and the A note over the A5 backing chord.


• Always descend (go down in pitch) through the scale during the G5 and A5 backing chords.


• When descending, always start from the highest A note.

Here we use the E pentatonic minor scale. This is perhaps the easiest guitar scale, and the notes are:

E Pentatonic Minor Scale: E - G - A - B - D - E (Octave)

Notice that we start by playing up (ascending) through this scale during the E5 backing chord. After the E (Octave) we then continue into the next octave, playing G - A. Listen to the backing music here. We are playing that G over the G5 backing chord and the A over the A5 backing chord. So these notes are held a little longer than the previous notes.

As soon as that E5 backing chord kicks in again, go back to the E (Octave) note and ascend through the scale again, just as before, through to the next (higher) octave. This is the same sequence of notes, just higher-sounding. Again, play into the following octave using the G over the G5 chord and the A over the A5 chord.

Repeat this again until we get to the A5 / B5 backing chord changes. Now we descend through the scale, faster and with no pit stops along the way. practicing in both directions (ascending and descending) will help you get better with the scale. Just because it sounds a bit better, we ascend for a few notes at the end of the B5 chord. This is like doing a little 'turnaround'. It just sounds a little nicer than ending on the low E and holding it.

Now, we ascend through the scale again as the low E5 backing chord kicks in once more. However, notice that this time, we speed through the scale twice as fast (straight through 2 registers, no pit stops on the middle octave E en route). Still end on the G and A notes as before. Repeat.

Tip: Use the Tablature view in the ActionTab to see the scale patterns more clearly.

That's all you need to get through the first half of the ActionTab. But notice that we 'skip' the turnaround (at the end of the B5 chord) and hold the Low E. This gives your hand time to move up to position for the next half of the ActionTab where we play up at fret 12.

The second half of the ActionTab is exactly the same thing as before - except everything is played at the 12th fret.

The 12th fret is an exact octave above the open strings. If you pick the open Low E, and then pick the same string at the 12th fret - you will be playing E again, just 1 octave higher.

So from here, your first finger just 'replaces' the open strings, and that means you will need to use other fingers to play the notes at the 15th and 14th frets, etc. Apart from that, exactly the same thing is played as before. Work at the 1st half of the ActionTab until you can play it all there, then working at this second half of the ActionTab will come much easier!

This ActionTab shows the first stage of this scale game. In the next ActionTabs we'll continue it, change a few rules, and come up with some cool licks. Before that, you need your fingers to start getting used to the scale. Practice until your fingers 'automatically' find their way.