PRESENCE - Volume 40

Inspiration For Guitarists

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One of the most useful things you can practice to improve your soloing is playing the pentatonic scale in 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-note sequences.

If you’ve listened to any great solo—Gilmour, Clapton, EVH, Mayer, SRV, Knopfler, you name it—you’ve already heard these sequences. They’re the glue that makes solos sound smooth, melodic, and intentional.

But here’s the problem:
Most guitarists practice these patterns like machines.
Click… click… click… metronome on, fingers moving, brain off.

That might help your fingers memorize the shapes—but it won’t train your ear or your musical instincts.

The real magic happens when you practice these sequences with backing tracks. That’s where you start to hear the patterns as music, not math.

Here’s a short video where I show you exactly what I mean:
✅ The Most Useful Pentatonic Exercise You Can Practice

You’ll hear the difference immediately.
Practicing sequences this way not only feels better—it helps you absorb the sound of these phrases so they come out naturally when you solo.

This week’s YouTube video shows the simplest way to map out the neck to solo in any key.

• You’re Learning the Pentatonic Scale Wrong (Here’s the Truth)

Here are a couple more recent videos that you might find helpful:

• This Simple System Explains Every Song You Know

• 97.4% of Guitarists Have No Idea What to Practice (Don’t Be Like Them)

Rock on,
Dustin

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