Some of the scales that fall outside the major and minor scales and modes are called synthetic. Of these, the whole-tone,the diminished and the pentatonic scales are the most commonly used in contemporary music.

The first approach is to use the A minor pentatonic scale over the entire progression for the classic blues sound.

A minor pent

A Min Blues

The next approach would be to use the A major pentatonic scale over the entire progression to give it a southern rock type of feel.

A major pent

A major pent

The next approach is to use the A major pentatonic over the one chord and the A minor pentatonic over the four and five chords.

Another approach would be to use the A minor over the one chord, D minor pentatonic over the four and E minor pentatonic over the five chord.

A minor pent

D minor pent

E minor pent

A different method would be to use A major pentatonic over the one chord, D major pentatonic over the four chord and the E major pentatonic over the five chord.

A major

D major pent

E major pent

The last approach i'll show you here is to use A mixolydian pentatonic over the one chord, D major pentatonic over the four chord and E minor pentatonic over the five chord.

A mixo pent

D major pent

E minor pent

Here is the five movable minor pentatonic scale patterns in A minor.

A minor pent

A minor pent

A minor pent

A minor pent

A minor pent

Here is the five movable A major pentatonic scale forms.

A major pent

A major pent

A major pent

A major pent

A major pent