A Minor Pentatonic Scale in 7th Position (Form 2)

Now it is time to work our way higher on the neck of the bass. This starts with your 2nd finger on the note that was being played with your 4th finger on the 4th string in form 1.

|--1--|-----|--3--|-----| -1st
|-(1)-|-----|-----|--4--|
|--1--|-----|-----|--4--|
|-----|--2--|-----|--4--| -4th
         |
        8th fret

Here is how pentatonic scale form 1 and form 2 fit together on the neck of the bass.

|--O--|-----|--O--|-----|--O--|-----| -1st string
|--O--|-----|-(O)-|-----|-----|--O--|
|--O--|-----|--O--|-----|-----|--O--|
|-(O)-|-----|-----|--O--|-----|--O--| -4th string
   |                 |
  5th fret          8th fret
|_______________________|           |
   form 1   |_______________________|
                     form 2

We now have 3 minor pentatonic scale forms that fit together, one below and one above the basic form 1.

|-(O)-|-----|-----|--O--|-----|--O--|-----|--O--|-----| -1st string
|--O--|-----|-----|--O--|-----|-(O)-|-----|-----|--O--|
|-----|--O--|-----|--O--|-----|--O--|-----|-----|--O--|
|-----|--O--|-----|-(O)-|-----|-----|--O--|-----|--O--| -4th string
         |           |                 |
       3rd fret     5th fret          8th fret
|_______________________|                 |           |
     form 5       |_______________________|           |
                      form 1  |_______________________|
                                        form 2

Extended A Minor Pentatonic Scale (Form 1)

Now it is time to learn an extended minor pentatonic scale form that makes a path through the 3 basic forms you have learned so far. The X's indicate the notes of the extended minor pentatonic in relationship to the 3 forms.

|-(O)-|-----|-----|--X--|-----|--X--|-----|--X--|-----| -1st string
|--O--|-----|-----|--X--|-----|-(X)-|-----|-----|--O--|
|-----|--X--|-----|--X--|-----|--X--|-----|-----|--O--|
|-----|--X--|-----|-(X)-|-----|-----|--O--|-----|--O--| -4th string
         |           |                 |
       3rd fret     5th fret          8th fret
|_______________________|                 |           |
     form 5       |_______________________|           |
                      form 1  |_______________________|
                                        form 2

Extended A Minor Pentatonic Scale (Form 1) - Ascending

When ascending you should use your 3rd finger to make the shifts between positions. This does not mean that in the real world you will always use the 3 finger to shift, but it is a good way to practice the scale when you are first learning.

|-----|-----|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|-----|--3--|-----| -1st string
|-----|-----|-----|--1--|-----|-(3)-|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|-----|--3--|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|--1--|-----|-(3)-|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----| -4th string
         |           |                 |
       3rd fret     5th fret          8th fret

Extended A Minor Pentatonic Scale (Form 1) - Descending

When descending you should use your 1st finger to make the shifts between positions.

|-----|-----|-----|--1--|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|-----| -1st string
|-----|-----|-----|--1--|-----|-(3)-|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|--1--|-----|--1--|-----|--3--|-----|-----|-----|
|-----|--1--|-----|-(3)-|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----| -4th string
         |           |                 |
       3rd fret     5th fret          8th fret

This extended minor pentatonic form is easy to learn if you just think of it as 2 identical 2 string mini forms. Notice how strings 4 and 3 use this shape, and strings 2 and 1.

|--O--|-----|--O--|-----|--O--|
|--O--|-----|-(O)-|-----|-----|

Minor Pentatonic Forms 3, 4 & Extended Form 2

Minor Pentatonic Scales for Bass Jump Zone

Minor Pentatonic Forms 1 & 5
Minor Pentatonic Forms 2 & Extended Form 1
Minor Pentatonic Forms 3, 4 & Extended Form 2
All 5 Forms Together & Print Version