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F♯ ionian pentatonic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E#, F#, A#, B, C# at frets 1, 2, 6, 7, 9

A string: A#, B, C#, E#, F# at frets 1, 2, 4, 8, 9

D string: E#, F#, A#, B, C# at frets 3, 4, 8, 9, 11

G string: A#, B, C#, E#, F# at frets 3, 4, 6, 10, 11

B string: B, C#, E#, F#, A#, B at frets 0, 2, 6, 7, 11, 12

High E string: E#, F#, A#, B, C# at frets 1, 2, 6, 7, 9

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F# ionian pentatonic

The ionian pentatonic keeps the root, major 3rd, 4th, 5th and major 7th of the major scale. Unlike the common major pentatonic it keeps both half-step tendencies (4 and 7), so it sounds like a compressed major scale rather than an open one. It outlines a major 7th chord with one passing tone, making it a compact source of maj7 arpeggio lines.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

F♯

I

A♯

III

B

IV

C♯

V

E♯

VII

Same notes, different mode

F# ionian 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.

A# pelog

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

tip
  • A maj7 arpeggio plus the 4th: the root, 3rd (A#), 4th (B), 5th (C#) and 7th (F); play it as chord tones with one passing note and lines write themselves.
  • Both half steps resolve like the full major scale, the 4th (B) falling to the 3rd and the 7th (F) rising to F#, so the five notes still sound complete.
  • Use it over maj7 chords when the ordinary major pentatonic feels too country; the VII changes the register of the sound.
  • Practice the IV-III and VII-root resolutions as ornaments (hammer-ons into the chord tone) for melodic comping in F#.

How to play F♯ ionian pentatonic on guitar

Only the open B string lands in F# ionian pentatonic, sounding the fourth, so fretted voicings carry almost everything. Clamp a capo at fret 2 and the open E fingering takes over, which means four sharps stop mattering under your fingers. Roots sit at fret 2 on each E string and fret 9 on the A string. Box one is over by fret 6.

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