A major pentatonic scale

[JAYJO]

Originally Posted by Axe_meister

Carfull when using the shifting down three frets. It's very tempting to use the same licks you would use when playing the minor pentatonic.

Making you sound like you are playing in F#m rather A Major.

I tend to go for a different shape and move that one up three frets

The normal Am pentatonic everybody starts with is

5 5 5 5 5 5
8 7 7 7 8 8

So shift that up to
2 2 2 2 2 2
5 4 4 4 5 5

But start on the 5th fret

However I use the next shape up the neck

Again Am

8 7 7 7 8 8
10 10 10 9 10 10

Move that down three frets

5 4 4 4 5 5
7 7 7 6 7 7

You will then natrually start your scale in the root (A) and will get a far more major feel compared your probably most familier Am shape

I dont personally like to use this type of method ie conciously thinking of counting up or down frets , I find it easier to Learn the notes.Though this maybe because thats the way I learned. I notice there is a good article about this 3fret scale shifting in this months Guitar Techniques magazine! May be useful to anyone interested. I think it endorses what you are quite rightly pointing out. Though again if the OP were to learn the scale notes this would be easier to realise and be a big step forward imo.

[Axe_meister]

Personally I don't learn the notes (other than where the roots are) for me it's about intervals.
To me these are far more important than the note names, these for me just refer to the key. Knowing intervals frees you up from being tied down to the key. Much easier for me to play a i then a b3 than having to count up on the fly from A to C