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Guitar scales · Minor pentatonic

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

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

Notes and pattern

The F♯ 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.

F♯ minor has the same notes as A major pentatonic, starting from F♯. See that scale.

  1. F♯1
  2. A♭3
  3. B4
  4. C♯5
  5. E♭7
EADGBE0135791215F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯EABC♯EABC♯EABEABC♯EABC♯EABC♯EABC♯EABC♯E
  • F♯, the root
  • Other scale notes

Positions

F♯ 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 2, with the , F♯, under your first finger on the low E string.

F♯ minor · G-shape position · box 1

Frets 2–5. The F♯m chord (Em form) is in ink.

EADGBE0135791215F♯F♯F♯C♯AC♯ABEBEA
  • Root (F♯)
  • Chord shape
  • Pentatonic tone

Chords

What to play F♯ minor pentatonic over

Play it over songs in F♯ minor or A major, and over a 12-bar blues in F♯ (F♯7, B7 and C♯7).

Same root

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

Questions

F♯ minor pentatonic, in short

What notes are in the F♯ minor pentatonic scale?
The F♯ minor has five notes: F♯, A, B, C♯ and E. As degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, 5 and ♭7.
What chords go with the F♯ minor pentatonic scale?
Play it over songs in F♯ minor or A major, and over a 12-bar blues in F♯ (F♯7, B7 and C♯7).
What is the relative major of F♯ minor pentatonic?
F♯ minor pentatonic has the same notes as A major pentatonic, starting from F♯.
All guitar scales