Deepening Understanding of Guitar Scales

[Leeacoustic81]

I’ve been playing guitar for around 3-4 years and I want to deepen my understanding of soloing/moving around scales within a major or minor key. I know the whole pentatonic scale from 1st position all the way until it repeats, however I’m interested in how I could memorise how to switch from, for example, 1st position all the way to 4th without thinking too hard. Also, how can I learn to make different licks in my improvisations. Finally, is the default pentatonic scale the “minor” scale, or is it actually the standard minor scale? This has been confusing me, thanks!!!

[GearNerd]

Honestly, the internet is a quagmire for this sort of stuff. You'll get a ton of contradictory advice as to what to prioritise. Get a teacher. Even if it's just fortnightly for a few months.

[BluesGuy]

Think less in “positions” and more in intervals and chord tones. The minor pentatonic is 1 b3 4 5 b7 and yes it comes from the natural minor scale. Practice connecting shapes through shared notes and target chord tones when the chord changes.

[MetalPlayer]

Pentatonic scale is 5 notes. Major is 1 2 3 5 6 of the scale, minor is 1, b3, 4, 5, b7. Start with understanding how scales are made, then you can pick these notes out of any. Once you know the fretboard, you can apply this up and down the fretboard.

[StudioPro]

The major and minor scales are the same set of notes. The only thing that changes is where the root note sits within the scale. So the major scale extensions you're finding are the exact same extensions to make the minor scale. Search for 'relative minor' for more information.

[UKPete24]

To move between shapes smoothly, connect them through shared notes and target chord tones when the chord changes. Practice playing one shape horizontally across strings, then shift into the next shape without stopping. Also, try limiting yourself to 2 strings at a time so you really see how they link.