Home Forums Guitar Instructor Doug Marks Question for Doug concerning the beginner lesson 3

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    • #14204
      Sean
      Participant

      Hey Doug, On beginner lesson 3. The third pentatonic scale, the tab shows the first and third finger playing on the 10th and 12th fret but you’re playing with your first and fourth finger. Does it matter? Is it just for comfort, can I choose whichever one I want or would you prefer me to be playing using only the pinky finger? thanks

      Tell me and I will forget ,show me and I'll remember, involve me and I'll understand

    • #14405
      Sarah Spisak
      Keymaster

      Hi Sean,

      Sorry it has taken so long to get an answer for you here!  Doug and I have been working very hard on new videos.  🙂

      Fingering for the pentatonic boxes has no set rules but I suggest these guidelines:

      Use your index and ring as much as possible.  For stretches of a minor third in lower registers (nearer the nut) you will need your pinky.  Also, you might play the same note with the ring finger and then switch to the pinky so that you will be able to reach the next note.  This is what Doug was doing in the video, as I recall- preparing for the stretch to the next note.  I hope this helps!  🙂

    • #14409
      Sean
      Participant

      Thanks Sarah!

      That makes perfect sense. Depending on where you are going on the fretboard for the next note, may determine the fingering. Cool, that frees me up a bit.

      Tell me and I will forget ,show me and I'll remember, involve me and I'll understand

    • #14413
      Sarah Spisak
      Keymaster

      Glad it was helpful!  🙂

    • #14945
      Doug Marks
      Keymaster

      Hi Sean.  As a rule of thumb, I try to shift my hand from right to left as little as possible.  Fingering on the first position of the pentatonic scale is simple because the hand doesn’t shift positions.  The third pattern requires a shift.  By beginning that pattern with my second finger it reduces “hand shift” by one movement.  For a beginner, that makes absolutely no difference at all.  When you’re trying to play 16th notes above 110 bpm it makes a great deal of difference.  Even so, I’m not consistent with my fingering on that pattern.  Typically I’ll play the bottom three strings with my first and third finger because it’s easiest.  If I’m trying to play it as fast as possible I shift to the more efficient method.  As Sarah said, a lot of this if personal preference.  There are many excellent guitarists that avoid using their pinkie as much as possible.  That’s personal preference but can be limiting.

      Metal Method Guitar Instructor

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