Easy Guitar Solo using A Minor Pentatonic Scale
Counting Crows is a super easy solo for guitarists starting to learn how to apply scales to lead guitar with the aim of eventually improvising their own solos. Most people start with the Minor Pentatonic Scale which is one of the easiest scale shapes to memorize and is used in a wide variety of guitar based music.
There are a few ways to look at this scale. The most common method is to memorize a series of five interconnected patterns that run up and down the guitar neck. The first pattern (commonly referred to as pattern one) is used in this solo in the key of A minor. Here it is shown in the diagram below:
The blue colored note is called the root note. It’s the strongest note and is used to name the scale. In this case it’s the note “A” on the 5th fret of the 6th string and so the scale is called A minor pentatonic. Any of the other notes in the scale shape can also be used to make a melody or lead guitar solo.
In the solo Counting Crows every note in pattern one is used. It’s fairly simple for those of you on electric guitar who have been playing for a few months or more. The biggest challenge will be to bend the third string (bar 3 and 11). If you watch the video or listen to the mp3 and read the Tab you’ll see what I mean.
An important concept which is imperative for good technique is called “position playing” where your fretting hand stays in a fixed location and each finger is assigned to a specific fret. This solo is best played in fifth position, meaning your 1st finger should play any notes on the 5th fret, 3rd finger on the 7th fret and 4th finger 8th fret.
The bend (bar 3 and 11) on the 7th fret 3rd string should be played with your 3rd finger plus your 1st and 2nd finger on their respective frets to help out when you push the string.
The full lesson contains the guitar tablature, downloadable pdf and mp3 plus exercises with lesson notes to help you learn the scale shape and the concept of position playing. For only $2 USD I’ll send you a password to access the full lesson. Just click on the link below and follow the prompts. if you have any questions please contact me.
Counting Crows (full lesson) $2 USD
