Let’s talk about how to play the minor pentatonic scale on guitar. This scale is one of the most important scales to know, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player.

In this post, I’ll share two different ways to play the A minor pentatonic scale on guitar. We’ll cover how to practice the scale, songs that use the A minor pentatonic, and even some music theory behind it. Plus, I’ll even dive into how legend Eric Clapton uses the minor pentatonic scale as well!

So make sure you're tuned up, and let’s get started!

What is the minor pentatonic scale on guitar?

The minor pentatonic scale is a series of 5 notes per octave. It’s a simplified scale from a full minor scale that’s extremely versatile for playing solos, riffs, and melodies. The scale serves as a foundation for blues, rock, pop, and many other styles, and it’s often the first scale guitarists learn for improvisation.

It’s a great tool for understanding how melody, phrasing, and rhythm work together over chords in a ...

Mick Jagger sang:

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“It's the honky tonk women

That gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues…” 

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I heard no lies. 

In this post, I’m going to share with you some insider guitar tips on one of the Rolling Stones’ most popular tunes.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Honkey Tonk Women” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Honkey Tonk Women?

“Honky Tonk Women” was originally written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones. It’s a fascinating song about a man’s run-ins with female nature. It describes the chaos and unpredictability found in bars and honky-tonk venues.

Richards said the song was inspired by a mixture of real-life experiences and his passion to blend the feel of country and rock. While Jagger said he wanted to highlight the charm and danger of these women.

The original recording was done at Olympic Studios in London and released as a single in 1969. The arrangement is raw and famously features a strong, cowbell, bluesy guitar ri...

Years ago, I was rehearsing with this combo band led by blues guitar legend Kenny Burrell...

One day, he walked into the rehearsal, and the band was trying to decide which tune to play first. I suggested this tune.

There was this large window lining the top of the room we were in, and you could see the trees outside during the fall.

Kenny pointed up to the window and said, “Yeah, I guess that’s ok because... 

the leaves...”

It’s one of the most famous tunes from the American songbook, and in this post, I cover Eric Clapton’s powerful version.

It’s a perfect song for fall. Someone commented online saying this: “The guitar is the screaming voice of love and pain.”

I don't disagree. 

There’s a whole horde of guitar lessons online explaining the “Spider” exercise on guitar…but guess what?

I disagree with all of them.

The exercise they are playing is the old 1234. Which is a fine exercise; however, it doesn’t look like a spider.

The reason why it’s called the “Spider” exercise is that as your hand crawls up the neck, it’s supposed to resemble a spider.

But the one everyone is showing you makes your hand look more like an ANT. Not a spider.

However, since tomorrow is Halloween, in this post, I want to share with you the ACTUAL “Spider” exercise, which I learned decades ago from an old classical musician.

Let's go back in time to 1963...

Here's a funky, soulful tune that's been played and recorded by tons of phenomenal artists.

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it. 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Sunny” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Sunny?

“Sunny” was originally written by Bobby Hebb in 1963. However, the song has been recorded by so many different artists that it is now considered a standard.

The original inspiration for “Sunny” came from some pretty terrible circumstances in Hebb’s life. His brother was stabbed, and his mother passed away, so he wanted to write something positive, something to bring some light into the darkness. 

The song was originally recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, and featured Bobby Hebb on vocals with a backing band that had more of a soulful groove to it.  

Upon its release in 1966, “Sunny” became an international hit, topping the charts in the United States and Europe. In addition to this s...

Here’s a nostalgic song about the complexities of the American dream.

It’s also a great example of how you can blend together strumming and cool riffs to fancy up your playing. 

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Pink Houses” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Pink Houses?

"Pink Houses" was originally written by American singer-songwriter John Mellencamp. 

The song has an interesting contrast and has become one of Mellencamp’s biggest tunes. It’s almost a celebration and critique of American life all at once. 

Mellencamp was inspired to write “Pink Houses” after driving along Interstate 65 near his hometown in Bloomington, Indiana. He saw a black man sitting in front of a pink house on a front porch, and the image inspired the first line of the tune. Mellencamp later explained that the song isn’t meant to be cynical but rather an honest reflection on how many people live good, decent lives...

They say that two things in life are unavoidable: death and taxes. 

Here’s a song about a guy feeling down from the ladder.

The guitar part blends fun bass lines, swinging rhythms, and even some bluesy chord changes to boot.

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it. 

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Sunny Afternoon” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Sunny Afternoon?

“Sunny Afternoon” was originally written by Ray Davies, the lead songwriter of the English rock band The Kinks. The song’s lyrics have a similar theme to “Taxman” by The Beatles, which was released earlier the same year, 1966. With lyrics like:
The tax man's taken all my dough,” expressing the pain of higher tax bills. 

Davies captures the plight of a man who has lost his fortune and must adjust to a more modest way of living, capturing both humor and a subtle critique of social and economic circumstances. Despite the troubled circumstances, the protagonist in the s...

If you like blending rhythm and lead, then I think you’re going to enjoy this post. 

It’s on a song that’s become a singer-songwriter classic.

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Wild World” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Wild World?

Wild World” is a classic acoustic folk tune written and recorded by the English singer-songwriter Cat Stevens (a.k.a Yusuf Islam). It was placed on his iconic album Tea for the Tillerman, released in 1970.

The song sings about a man losing his girl. She extracted all she could from him and then left for greener pastures. Somehow still in love, the man offers her a mixture of well-wishes and cautionary advice. He tries to warn her of the bad out there, and still shows masculine virtue and care for her. 

The story most closely associated with the song's inspiration is the end of Stevens' relationship with American actress Patti D'Arbanville. They had been a coup...