So many classic rock guitar solos use the pentatonic scale as it’s an easy scale to play using the pentatonic box patterns on the guitar neck. All of the solos here use pattern 1 of this box shape plus other patterns to move around. These pentatonic scale solos are great to learn if you want to get into playing lead guitar.

More free Guitar TAB transcriptions here.

Hey Joe – Jimi Hendrix

The guitar solo Jimi Hendrix plays in Hey Joe uses the E minor pentatonic scale sticking to pattern 1 of the scale in the 12th position. Check out the YouTube guitar lesson video below. Free PDF Guitar Tab Transcription available here.

Strange Brew – Cream

Eric Clapton’s solo in Strange Brew based on the A minor pentatonic scale also uses pattern 1 however it also plays notes using pattern 2 of the scale. The solo also includes notes from the A blues scale (Eb) and the major 3rd chord tone from the A7 chord (C#). Check out the YouTube guitar lesson video below. Free PDF Guitar Tab Transcription available here.

Paranoid – Black Sabbath

Tony Iommi’s solo in Paranoid uses the E minor pentatonic scale is a great example of a solo moving through patterns 3, 4 and 5 of the scale before settling on pattern 1 for most of the remainder of the solo in the 12th position. Check out the YouTube guitar lesson video below. Free PDF Guitar Tab Transcription available here.

You Shook Me All Night Long – AC DC

Angus Young’s solo in You Shook Me All Night Long uses the G minor pentatonic scale starting with pattern 1 at the 3rd position. It then moves up to the higher version of pattern 1 in the 15th position using a mixture of the G minor and G major pentatonic scales. Check out the YouTube guitar lesson video below.

Have fun learning these classic rock solos that use classic pentatonic scale patterns and licks you can incorporate into your own guitar solos.