Tuning-specific scale diagram

F Minor Pentatonic Scale in 8-String Drop E Tuning

F Minor Pentatonic Scale in 8-String Drop E Tuning shows the same f minor pentatonic scale pitch classes across 8 strings tuned E B E A D G B E. The seventh and eighth strings extend the pattern into the lower register for wider-range riffs and chord voicings.

Scale notes: F, Ab, Bb, C, Eb
Formula: 1 b3 4 5 b7
Semitones: 0 3 5 7 10
Tuning: E B E A D G B E
Strings: 8
Open pitch range: E1 to E4
24-fret range: E1 to E6

Open strings and root positions

None of the 8 open strings belongs to F Minor Pentatonic Scale. Every scale tone must therefore be fretted, beginning with the first available tone on the low E string.

First root on each string

String 8Fret 1

String 7Fret 6

String 6Fret 1

String 5Fret 8

String 4Fret 3

String 3Fret 10

String 2Fret 6

String 1Fret 1

Low-string pattern

On the lowest E string, the first-octave scale pattern falls at frets 1, 4, 6, 8, and 11, with the F root at fret 1. On the highest E string, the first F is at fret 1.

Fret 1F1

Fret 4Abb3

Fret 6Bb4

Fret 8C5

Fret 11Ebb7

Practice this tuning-specific layout

Play F Minor Pentatonic Scale on the low E string at frets 1, 4, 6, 8, and 11, saying each note name and degree aloud.
Play the scale without using an open string, then stop on the nearest F root each time the line changes strings.
Connect the F root positions on strings 8 through 1 at frets 1, 6, 1, 8, 3, 10, 6, and 1, adding the nearest scale tone between each pair of roots.