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C minor pentatonic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, Bb, C, Eb at frets 1, 3, 6, 8, 11

A string: Bb, C, Eb, F, G at frets 1, 3, 6, 8, 10

D string: Eb, F, G, Bb, C at frets 1, 3, 5, 8, 10

G string: G, Bb, C, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12

B string: C, Eb, F, G, Bb at frets 1, 4, 6, 8, 11

High E string: F, G, Bb, C, Eb at frets 1, 3, 6, 8, 11

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C 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:

C

I

E♭

bIII

F

IV

G

V

B♭

bVII

Same notes, different mode

C 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.

Eb major pentatonicF egyptianG malkos ragaBb ritusen

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

tip
  • Learn box 1 at the fret of C 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 (F) bent a whole step up to the 5th (G) is the single most-used bend in blues; practice hitting it in tune.
  • Rub the flat 3rd (Eb) 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 (Gb) as a passing note and you have the C blues scale; use it in transit, not as a resting place.

How to play C minor pentatonic on guitar

Box one sits at fret 8 on the low E string, root under your first finger. Open G rings as the fifth of C, so the G string can carry a drone under the box while your fretting hand stays busy. Eb major pentatonic uses the same fingering from a tonic 3 semitones higher, which lets one box serve both centres. Box one runs out at fret 12. Roots at fret 3 on the A string and fret 1 on the B string give you two low anchors, so leaving eighth position never strands you.

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