Pentatonic Shapes

[Uncle Brad]

Does the mandolin have pentatonic shapes like the guitar does?

[Jairo Ramos]

Yes, everything has shapes (and they are movable) on the mandolin: scales, chords, arpeggios etc ... the best and most comprehensive book on shapes on the mandolin is Mandolin Exercise for Dummies, by Don Julin, if you want to learn all of them. It's one of the best purchases I've ever made ...

[pops1]

Sure, the mandolin ones are easier. I use major and minor shapes all the time. You can play in a minor with a major shape too once you see the connection.

[Zach Williams]

You can pretty much move these around wherever you want. Just focus on the root note to guide your exploration

[JeffD]

Sure, the mandolin ones are easier. .

And the mandolin shapes are portable across the neck not just up and down the neck. No asymmetries across the neck like traditionally tuned guitar.

[Tim C.]

yes, but as an educator, I will say that it's beneficial to learn the actual notes and scale degrees too. Shapes enable us to play without really understanding what's going on, which is a miracle to be sure. But for students who really want to improve, stay away from shapes until you really learn your scales.