Guest Columnists

Pentatonic Speed Mechanics, Part 2

Here are more exercises to develop and improve outside picking and alternate picking.

by Jirakit Somame April-May 2010 · Guitar Technique · Guest Columnists

Speed Bursts

Examples 1, 2 and 3 are two, three and four string short speed bursts, and based on the A minor pentatonic, using group of five and seven notes with a strictly alternate picking sequence which begins on a down stroke.

Examples 3, 4 and 5 are two, three and four string short speed bursts, using the A minor pentatonic with combination group of five and seven notes. Notice the first and fourth beats are using a grouping of five, and the second and third beats are using a grouping of seven.

Pentatonic Sequence Lick

Examples 7 and 8 are sequence licks that ascend, and the sequence licks on Examples 9 and 10 descend through the A pentatonic minor scale with combination group of five and seven notes.

Enjoy your picking! And see you next time.

What it is about

Scales

The writer

Jirakit Somame

Jirakit Somame is a guitarist that was born in Buriram, Thailand. He began playing guitar seriously at age 14. When he was 23, he began classical guitar studies and harmony at the Department of Music at Rajabhat Nakornratchasima in Nakornratchasima, Thailand.

Jirakit has taught guitar and music at the Department of Music at Surindra Rajabhat University and Banthanon School in Surin, Thailand. He has studied guitar with Tom Hess.

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