Originally Posted by: bross.kyleI'm working through the 5 patterns of scales.[/quote]What scales? In what patterns? Straight up & down? Sequences? In time?
Originally Posted by: bross.kyleWhen I get to patterns where the lowest root note isn't on the 6th string, how do I practice those patterns?[/quote]It depends on what you intend to do with them. It can be beneficial to play the entire pattern of all notes that are available in any given position. If you want to learn how to solo over various chord progressions, then it will be useful to know where all the scale degrees are & to have the dexterity to get to them when necessary.
[quote=bross.kyle]Should I just play root to root, or how do I go about playing all the notes from 1st to 6th string?
What style of music do you want to play? What types of lines, licks or riffs do you intend to play with these scales?
For example, if you want to play over the IV chord of a progression, then it can be useful to know where the scale degrees for that chord are. And the root note of the IV chord is not the 1 of the scale! Likewise for all the other possible chords that aren't the tonic chord!
[quote=bross.kyle]For instance, the 3rd pattern of Am Pentatonic, root is on the D string, 7th fret, and the highest root is the 10th fret of the B string. I've just been playing root to root but I don't want to develop that habit if I should be playing everything in the pattern.
It really depends on what you want to do with these scales.
If you want to get serious about learning how to play all over the fretboard, then yes, play all the available notes of the scale in any given position.
If you just want to play certain rock or blues licks, then just work on those specific types of licks, learning how to play them & what the scale degrees are to understand the sound & how to use them.
For example, these exercises are aimed at learning & practicing all the notes of every pentatonic box pattern.
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=722
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=185
Alternately, these tutorials are aimed at connecting certain patterns within the boxes to make licks.
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=737
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=843
And these tutorials are more aimed at using the pentatonic boxes to target chord tones within chord changes.
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=217
So, it really depends on your musical goals. Hope that helps!
