Skip to content

Guitar scales · Minor pentatonic

C♯ minor pentatonic scale on guitar (C# minor pentatonic)

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. C♯1
  2. E♭3
  3. F♯4
  4. G♯5
  5. B♭7
EADGBE0135791215C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯C♯EF♯G♯BEF♯BEF♯G♯BEF♯G♯BEG♯BEF♯G♯BEF♯G♯BEF♯G♯BEF♯
  • 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 9, with the , C♯, under your first finger on the low E string.

C♯ minor · G-shape position · box 1

Frets 9–12. The C♯m chord (Em form) is in ink.

EADGBE0135791215C♯C♯C♯G♯EG♯EF♯BF♯BE
  • 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♯ (C♯7, F♯7 and G♯7).

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♯ (C♯7, F♯7 and G♯7).
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