Pentatonic patterns

[clickhoward]

Is there any reason why the fingering patterns for 'extended minor patterns #1 &2' listed at http://www.cyberfret.com/scales/minor-pentatonic/page2.php
has you using only your first and third fingers. I find it much easier to bring in finger number 2 when the patterns reach the second string. What do you guys do? Just wondering if its better to keep the other fingers free...for?

[cyberfret]

It just depends on what you are playing.....where you are going and where you came from. The suggested fingering for the scale is just that, a suggestion. There will definitely be many real world situations where you will alter the fingering to fit a certain situation.

In the case of those extended pentatonic position...one of the reasons that I suggest using your 1st and 3rd fingers is that then every set of 2 string will have exactly the same fingering.

--Shawn

[clickhoward]

:)