Hello again! I would like to continue on with my two-hand technique and talk a little bit about my approach to tapping pentatonic scales. The sequences below are all played using an A minor pentatonic scale. I use the same standard two-note per string patterns that you probably already know. The only difference is that I play two patterns at once; one pattern is played with my left hand and the other is played with my right hand. Below are the two patterns that I will be using for this article:

This sequence begins with a right hand note that is pulled off to a left hand note. Be sure to stick to the indicated fingerings. I prefer to use my first and third fingers of my right (tapping) hand for all of the examples. In fact, these pentatonic sequences are a perfect workout for developing your third finger. I find it to be the weakest of my three right- hand fingers.

Also, make sure your pull-offs are good and strong. Remember to pull-off in an upwards motion; almost as if you are playing fingerstyle. This will give you the best sound.

You'll notice that this sequence is almost the same as the first sequence. The only difference is that we start with a left-hand note and hammer-on with a right-hand note. I actually find this sequence to be a little harder to play than the first one. However, it sounds really cool, doesn't it?

You may be finding that the most difficult aspect of this technique is learning how to tap two different pentatonic scale shapes at the same time. Your right hand will have a tendency to play the same shape that your left hand is playing and visa versa. This is a normal problem and it still happens to me sometimes! Be patient and work through it. It will get a lot easier.

Let's do one more sequence. This sequence involves the use of sextuplets. Don't worry, it is not as difficult as it sounds. Go ahead and check it out.

This last sequence is a combination of the first two. It begins with a left-hand note. Then you do a hammer-on and pull-off with the right hand to that same note. After that, it's only a matter of moving up to the next note of the scale and doing the same thing. Just as in the first two sequences, take your time and start off slow. Use a metronome and make sure all of your notes are nice and strong. Always pay close attention to the sound you are getting. Tone is very important.

I included an audio example of me improvising to an A minor funk groove. I made sure to use only the two scale patterns that I talked about in this article. I also made sure to use the three sequences during the solo. You'll notice that I didn't always use the entire sequence. Most of the time, I used only bits and pieces of them. I also included the same groove (audio example 8) without any solos for you to practice improvising over. Have fun and see what you can come up with.

Next time, we'll continue with some more two-hand tapping ideas. See you then!