Guitar scale
F# Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale
F# Minor Pentatonic is a five-note scale built from F#, A, B, C#, and E. Use it to study the scale's notes, interval formula, and guitar fretboard positions.
- Notes
- F#, A, B, C#, E
- Formula
- 1 b3 4 5 b7
- Semitones
- 0 3 5 7 10
How to read this scale
The notes are shown as pitch classes first. Square markers representF# root notes in the fretboard view, while circular markers represent the other notes in the scale.
Use the interactive fretboard to locate the F# root notes and connect the remaining minor pentatonic tones across standard tuning.
Sound and defining tones
F# minor pentatonic is anchored by b3 (A) and b7 (E). Omitting the second and sixth removes the half-step tensions of the full natural-minor scale and leaves a compact, guitar-friendly minor vocabulary.
- Characteristic tones
- b3Ab7E
Fretboard diagram
Open this scale in the fretboard tool
Start with F# Minor Pentatonic loaded, then adjust tuning, labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.
Open in interactive fretboardCommon chords and contexts
Use F# minor pentatonic over F# minor harmony, power-chord riffs, and many blues or rock settings. Over dominant blues, treat bends and chord-tone targeting as part of the style.
- Use F# minor pentatonic over F# minor chords, power-chord riffs, and many blues or rock solos.
- Its five-note layout removes the half-step tensions from natural minor, which makes it easy to phrase on guitar.
Practice this scale on guitar
- Play F# Minor Pentatonic from one F# root to the next in at least two fretboard positions, saying each note name and scale degree aloud.
- Locate b3 (A) and b7 (E) inside every connected position and bend or slide into them from a neighboring fret where the style allows.
- Limit yourself to three adjacent strings over minor backing centered on F#, then connect that phrase to the next position without restarting the pattern.