Scales and modes
Minor pentatonic scale
The minor pentatonic scale is a five-note scale, 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7 (A C D E G in A), and the core soloing scale of rock and blues guitar.
What is the minor pentatonic scale?
The minor pentatonic is a five-note scale: 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7. In A: A C D E G.
It removes the two notes of natural minor that tend to clash, the 2 (B) and the ♭6 (F). The result has no half steps between neighbouring notes, so almost nothing sounds wrong over the chords of the key. That is why it is the first scale most guitarists learn to improvise with.
How do you play the minor pentatonic on guitar?
Position 1 (the famous box) of A minor pentatonic sits at the 5th fret, two notes per string:
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 5, 8 | A C |
| 5 | 5, 7 | D E |
| 4 | 5, 7 | G A |
| 3 | 5, 7 | C D |
| 2 | 5, 8 | E G |
| 1 | 5, 8 | A C |
Fingering: first finger on fret 5, third finger on fret 7, little finger on fret 8. The A roots are on the low E string 5th fret, the D string 7th fret and the high E string 5th fret.
Four more positions link together up the neck to the 17th fret, where box 1 starts again an octave higher. They line up with the five shapes of the CAGED system. To see them all, display the scale on the fretboard with the guitar scales tool, or read our guide to the five pentatonic positions.
A minor pentatonic lick to play right now
The most classic rock lick in box 1:
- B string 8th fret (G), bend up a whole step to A, release.
- B string 5th fret (E), then G string 7th fret (D) and 5th fret (C).
- Finish on A, D string 7th fret, with vibrato.
Play it slowly and check the bend's pitch against the A on the high E string 5th fret: the two should sound identical.
Which chords can you play the minor pentatonic over?
- Minor-key rock and pop: A minor pentatonic over Am, Am G F, Am C D or Am Dm Em.
- Blues: over a 12-bar blues in A (A7, D7, E7), it works over all three chords. The C (♭3) rubs against the C# of A7 on purpose, and a slight bend toward C# sounds instantly bluesy.
- Major sound: over A major in a country or pop style, reach for the major pentatonic scale instead, which uses the same shape three frets lower.
Add the flat fifth (E♭) and you get the blues scale.
Key takeaways
- Formula: 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7, five notes, no half steps.
- A minor pentatonic: A C D E G, box 1 at the 5th fret.
- Five positions cover the whole neck.
- Use it for minor-key rock and across the whole 12-bar blues.
Frequently asked questions
How many positions does the minor pentatonic have?
Five. In A, they start roughly at the 5th, 8th, 10th, 12th and 15th frets, then the first one returns at the 17th fret (or at the 5th fret an octave lower). Each position shares its outer notes with the next one.
Can you play minor pentatonic over a major chord?
Yes, in blues and rock: A minor pentatonic over A7 sounds bluesy thanks to the ♭3. Over a soft major chord in a pop ballad, though, it can sound harsh, and the major pentatonic fits better.
What is the difference between the minor pentatonic and the blues scale?
The blues scale is the minor pentatonic plus one note, the ♭5 (E♭ in A). In box 1 you find it on the A string 6th fret and the G string 8th fret, and it works mostly as a passing note.
Related terms
Practise in the workshop
Take it from theory to the fretboard
Open the workshop tools and see this idea across the whole neck. Free account, no card needed.