Learning slide guitar: Slide guitar scale lesson in Open E

So you want to start learning slide guitar, and you’ve got your guitar tuned to Open E. You probably asking, “Now what?” Well that is a good question.

One of the first things you need to do is learn the Minor Pentatonic scale in this tuning. It looks like this in the key of Am.

See how it differs from the pentatonic scale in standard tuning? Now for slide, these patterns may be hard to play so consider this option.

This pattern is better for slide because of the symmetry of the patterns. Try some licks using both patterns and see which is easier. When learning slide guitar after coming from standard tuning, it’s ofter a matter of rethinking familiar patterns, to come up with better ways of playing these slide guitar licks.

See you next time, and happy slidin!