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A major pentatonic scale on guitar
A major pentatonic uses A, B, C♯, E, and F♯. Box 1 spans frets 0–2 with three root positions for quick access.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
How do you play the A major pentatonic scale on guitar?
A major pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 2, 10 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 2. The root falls on the A string at fret 0 and the G string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 2 | E, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 0, 2 | A, B |
| 4 (D) | 2 | E |
| 3 (G) | 2 | A |
| 2 (B) | 0, 2 | B, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 2 | E, F♯ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
A major pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 12 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the G string at fret 2 and the high e string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 5 | F♯, A |
| 5 (A) | 2, 4 | B, C♯ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 4 | E, F♯ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 4 | A, B |
| 2 (B) | 2, 5 | C♯, E |
| 1 (e) | 2, 5 | F♯, A |
Box 3 · frets 5–7
A major pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 7, 9 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the D string at fret 7 and the high e string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 7 | A, B |
| 5 (A) | 7 | E |
| 4 (D) | 7 | A |
| 3 (G) | 6 | C♯ |
| 2 (B) | 5, 7 | E, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 5, 7 | A, B |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
A major pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 11 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to C♯ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the D string at fret 7 and the B string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 7, 9 | E, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 9 | A, B |
| 3 (G) | 9 | E |
| 2 (B) | 7, 10 | F♯, A |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
A major pentatonic in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 12 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the B string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 12 | C♯, E |
| 5 (A) | 9, 12 | F♯, A |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11 | B, C♯ |
| 3 (G) | 9, 11 | E, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 10, 12 | A, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 12 | C♯, E |
Why it sounds like that
A major pentatonic drops the fourth and seventh degrees from A major, leaving a five-note set with no semitone tension. The intervals 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 come from the parent scale A major. This removal creates a bright, open sound that works over major and dominant chords.
When to use it
A major pentatonic fits A major and A 5th chords, and it also works over B 5th and E 5th. Use it for country, rock, and pop lines in the key of A major. Try it over A major or A 5th.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. Its root on the sixth string, fifth fret anchors the pattern and connects to the open A chord.
Common questions
What notes are in A major pentatonic?
A major pentatonic contains A, B, C♯, E, and F♯. These are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th degrees of the A major scale. The fourth and seventh degrees are omitted.
Which chords does A major pentatonic fit?
A major pentatonic fits A major and A 5th chords directly. It also works over B 5th and E 5th in progressions. The scale avoids the fourth and seventh, so it rarely clashes.
Is A major pentatonic the same as F♯ minor pentatonic?
A major pentatonic shares the same notes as F♯ minor pentatonic. The difference is the tonal center: A major pentatonic resolves to A, while F♯ minor pentatonic resolves to F♯.