Minor pentatonic scale on guitar
Rock and blues default: most lead guitar lives here. Formula 1 b3 4 5 b7. In A, the minor pentatonic scale is A, C, D, E, G.
Formula and step pattern
Steps between neighbouring notes, closing on the octave: W+H W W W+H W (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = three semitones).
| Degree | Semitones from root | In A |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | A |
| b3 | 3 | C |
| 4 | 5 | D |
| 5 | 7 | E |
| b7 | 10 | G |
Minor pentatonic scale notes in all 12 keys
The root fret columns show where each key starts on the 6th (low E) and 5th (A) strings in standard tuning.
| Key | Notes | Root on 6th string | Root on 5th string |
|---|---|---|---|
| C minor pentatonic | C Eb F G Bb | 8 | 3 |
| C# minor pentatonic | C# E F# G# B | 9 | 4 |
| D minor pentatonic | D F G A C | 10 | 5 |
| D# minor pentatonic | D# F# G# A# C# | 11 | 6 |
| E minor pentatonic | E G A B D | Open (and 12) | 7 |
| F minor pentatonic | F Ab Bb C Eb | 1 | 8 |
| F# minor pentatonic | F# A B C# E | 2 | 9 |
| G minor pentatonic | G Bb C D F | 3 | 10 |
| G# minor pentatonic | G# B C# D# F# | 4 | 11 |
| A minor pentatonic | A C D E G | 5 | Open (and 12) |
| Bb minor pentatonic | Bb Db Eb F Ab | 6 | 1 |
| B minor pentatonic | B D E F# A | 7 | 2 |
Fretboard positions: A minor pentatonic
Root in solid cyan, scale tones outlined, from the open strings to fret 15. Slide the pattern along the neck to change key, using the root frets in the table above.
Pick another root in the scale trainer to light up the minor pentatonic scale in any key.
Chords that fit A minor pentatonic
Chords from the chord library built only from notes of A minor pentatonic (A C D E G).
Related scales
- Natural minor scale: Minor pentatonic sits inside natural minor, which adds 2 and b6.
- Major pentatonic scale: Same notes, different home note: A minor pentatonic uses the notes of C major pentatonic.
- Blues scale: Minor pentatonic sits inside blues, which adds b5.
- Dorian scale: Minor pentatonic sits inside Dorian, which adds 2 and 6.
- Phrygian scale: Minor pentatonic sits inside Phrygian, which adds b2 and b6.