My pick: Bass Gym: Fire Up Your A Minor Pentatonic Chops

I named this tune “These Licks are Fire,” which may be a bit of an ambitious title for a fast A minor pentatonic groove. I admit it. However, don’t be deceived by the simple and humble tone material, as there are some challenging passages even for an experienced player.

Download the transcription and follow along with the video below.

The piece can be divided into three sections: an intro, a riff and a funky outro.

The first eight bars are an intro that tests your pentatonic chops. I call this ‘positional playing’, because we switch between the middle section of the neck, where you can comfortably play your A minor pentatonic licks (A, C, D, E, G, A), and the position above the 12th fret, where you play your closing lick. I think of it as a question and answer style. The first bar starts with an open question, to which you answer with a lick in bar 2. The same applies to bars 3 and 4, and so on.

The riff section starts in bars 9–16 and is based on an open A string riff with some extra funky notes borrowed from the A Dorian scale (A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G, A). Pay extra attention to the precision of the sixteenth notes and the smooth transition between the open A string and the D string. I personally love playing these fast sixteenth note lines as they create a rich texture and a sense of forward motion in the song.

The funky outro riff starts on bar 17 and is based on fifths and octaves with strong syncopation.

As we’re on a roll, bars 25 and 26 give you the chance to run down the neck.

Have fun with this one and keep your fire burning!