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Guitar scales · Minor pentatonic

C minor pentatonic scale on guitar

The C minor has five notes: C, E♭, F, G and B♭. As degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, 5 and ♭7.

Notes and pattern

The C minor pentatonic scale

The first scale most guitarists learn: the backbone of blues and rock soloing. Play it to hear it up and down.

From note to note it climbs 3, 2, 2, 3 and 2 : there are no , which is why it is so hard to hit a wrong note.

C minor has the same notes as E♭ major pentatonic, starting from C. See that scale.

  1. C1
  2. E♭♭3
  3. F4
  4. G5
  5. B♭♭7
EADGBE0135791215CCCCCCCCFGB♭E♭FGB♭E♭FGB♭E♭FGB♭E♭FGB♭E♭FGB♭E♭FGB♭FGB♭E♭FG
  • C, the root
  • Other scale notes

Positions

C minor pentatonic in five positions

The splits the neck into five overlapping positions, one per shape. Learn one, then join it to the next.

Box 1 starts at 8, with the , C, under your first finger on the low E string.

C minor · G-shape position · box 1

Frets 8–11. The Cm chord (Em form) is in ink.

EADGBE0135791215CCCGE♭GE♭FB♭FB♭E♭
  • Root (C)
  • Chord shape
  • Pentatonic tone

Chords

What to play C minor pentatonic over

Play it over songs in C minor or E♭ major, and over a 12-bar blues in C (C7, F7 and G7).

Same root

Change a note or two and the same takes on a new mood.

Questions

C minor pentatonic, in short

What notes are in the C minor pentatonic scale?
The C minor has five notes: C, E♭, F, G and B♭. As degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, 5 and ♭7.
What chords go with the C minor pentatonic scale?
Play it over songs in C minor or E♭ major, and over a 12-bar blues in C (C7, F7 and G7).
What is the relative major of C minor pentatonic?
C minor pentatonic has the same notes as E♭ major pentatonic, starting from C.
All guitar scales