String-Skipping Pentatonic Patterns

by Christopher Sung In response to your requests for more metal lessons, here a great way to rev up your playing - string-skipping. In this lesson, we'll look at how string-skipping can be applied to the minor pentatonic scale. First, we'll cover the 3-notes per string approach and how to finger this, and then we'll look at some basic patterns using this scale form, and finally, some hot licks using this concept.

String-skipping means exactly what the name implies: playing a series of notes on non-adjacent strings. But first, let's look at how the pentatonic form lays out on the fingerboard and what fingerings to use. In this lesson, we'll be using the A minor pentatonic form in 5th position. My suggested fingerings for this are:

• Use your index finger for the 5th fret
• Use your middle finger for the 7th and 8th frets
• Use your pinky for the 9th and 10th frets.

The scale is presented in the example below, with 3 notes played for each string. Get it under your fingers till it feels comfortable.