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A minor pentatonic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, G, A, C, D, E at frets 0, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12

A string: A, C, D, E, G, A at frets 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12

D string: D, E, G, A, C, D at frets 0, 2, 5, 7, 10, 12

G string: G, A, C, D, E, G at frets 0, 2, 5, 7, 9, 12

B string: C, D, E, G, A at frets 1, 3, 5, 8, 10

High E string: E, G, A, C, D, E at frets 0, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12

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A minor pentatonic

The minor pentatonic is the most played guitar scale in existence: root, flat 3rd, 4th, 5th and flat 7th. Its five notes fit one comfortable two-notes-per-string box, which made it the backbone of blues, rock and countless classic solos. Because it omits the 2nd and 6th it works over almost any chord in a minor key, and adding the flat 5th turns it into the minor blues scale.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

C

bIII

D

IV

E

V

G

bVII

Same notes, different mode

A minor pentatonic uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

C major pentatonicD egyptianE malkos ragaG ritusen

minor pentatonic in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Learn box 1 at the fret of A on the low E string first, but escape it early: slide up to box 2 on the B and E strings for higher bends.
  • The 4th (D) bent a whole step up to the 5th (E) is the single most-used bend in blues; practice hitting it in tune.
  • Rub the flat 3rd (C) against a major-key backing for blues grit, or curl it slightly sharp toward the major 3rd like the classic players.
  • Add the flat 5th (Eb) as a passing note and you have the A blues scale; use it in transit, not as a resting place.

How to play A minor pentatonic on guitar

Box one starts at fret 5, first finger on the root. Five of the six open strings are scale tones in A, so low E, A, D, G and high E can all drone under anything you play in position. Only B is out. Those same five notes spell C major pentatonic, which means one fingering serves two tonal centres: it resolves to A over Am and to C over Cmaj with nothing in your left hand changing. At fret 9 the box stops working, so roots at fret 7 on the D string and fret 2 on the G string are your anchors for leaving it.

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