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Guitar scales · Minor pentatonic

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

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

Notes and pattern

The G♯ 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.

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

  1. G♯1
  2. B♭3
  3. C♯4
  4. D♯5
  5. F♯♭7
EADGBE0135791215G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯G♯F♯BC♯D♯F♯BC♯D♯F♯BD♯F♯BC♯D♯BC♯D♯F♯BC♯D♯F♯BC♯F♯BC♯D♯F♯
  • G♯, the root
  • Other scale notes

Positions

G♯ 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 4, with the , G♯, under your first finger on the low E string.

G♯ minor · G-shape position · box 1

Frets 4–7. The G♯m chord (Em form) is in ink.

EADGBE0135791215G♯G♯G♯D♯BD♯BC♯F♯C♯F♯B
  • Root (G♯)
  • Chord shape
  • Pentatonic tone

Chords

What to play G♯ minor pentatonic over

Play it over songs in G♯ minor or B major, and over a 12-bar blues in G♯ (G♯7, C♯7 and D♯7).

Same root

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

Questions

G♯ minor pentatonic, in short

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