Pattern V, in the key of Am, covers frets 14-17. Pattern V has root notes on the 1st string and the 6th string.
Pattern 5
Fingering
Pattern 5 is really useful. The symitry of it makes it easy to remember and great for hammer-ons and pull-offs. You can approach it two ways: strict or loose. The strict approach is to play it entirely in 14th position. Going the strict route, the fingering, from low to high, is 2-4, 2-4, 1-4, 1-4, 2-4, 2-4. The loose approach involves shifting up the neck one fret (i.e., into 15th position) for the notes on strings 1, 2, 5, and 6. You shift back to 14th position for strings 3 and 4. Going the loose route, the fingering, from low to high, is 1-3, 1-3, 1-4, 1-4, 1-3, 1-3.
Having three roots at strategically useful positions also help make Pattern 5 great for repeating licks and two-octave lines.
Connections
The line of notes across the 17th fret--the upper limit of Pattern 5--also forms, as we shall see, the lower limit of Pattern 1 (High). Look for opportunities to create lines which cut across that dividing line. It will enhance your grasp of the neck and keep your lines from always beeing boxed into one pattern.
Last Update
This page was last updated on 07/07/2026.