Skip to content

Open Pentatonic Scale Shapes

These patterns can be used in your soloing and to play over their representative open chords. As usual, I have included at least 2 diagrams for each pattern. The 1st diagram shows the pattern with its correct fingerings and the second diagram shows the chord counterpart that they are associated with.

The A, E, and D style patterns have some notes that cannot be played in the open position with the same patterns, therefore I have relocated those notes on adjacent strings
(all are on the 4th fret). This may be a little awkward for some people so I have included a 3rd diagram with these patterns without the relocated notes. Spend some time comparing these patterns with their movable forms.

A tab example with audio shows the open scale pattern played off of the open chord it is named after.

C Shape

C major open 1 CAGED Open Scale Patterns C major open 2 CAGED Open Scale Patterns

C style open CAGED Open Scale Patterns

A Shape

A major open 1 CAGED Open Scale Patterns A major open 3 CAGED Open Scale Patterns A major open 2 CAGED Open Scale Patterns

a style open CAGED Open Scale Patterns

G Shape

G major open 1 CAGED Open Scale Patterns G major open 2 CAGED Open Scale Patterns

g style open CAGED Open Scale Patterns

E Shape

E major open 1 CAGED Open Scale Patterns E major open 3 CAGED Open Scale Patterns E major open 2 CAGED Open Scale Patterns

e style open CAGED Open Scale Patterns

D Shape

D major open 1 CAGED Open Scale Patterns D major open 3 CAGED Open Scale Patterns D major open 2 CAGED Open Scale Patterns

d style open CAGED Open Scale Patterns