C major pentatonic scale on guitar

C major pentatonic uses C, D, E, G, and A. Box 1 spans frets 0–3 with roots on the fifth, third, and second strings.

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Practice C major pentatonic scale

How it is built

C1D2E3G5A6

Formula 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

How do you play the C major pentatonic scale on guitar?

C major pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 12 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 3 and the B string at fret 1.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	0, 3	E, G
5 (A)	0, 3	A, C
4 (D)	0, 2	D, E
3 (G)	0, 2	G, A
2 (B)	1, 3	C, D
1 (e)	0, 3	E, G

Box 2 · frets 3–5

C major pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 5, 10 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the A string at fret 3 and the G string at fret 5.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	3, 5	G, A
5 (A)	3, 5	C, D
4 (D)	5	G
3 (G)	5	C
2 (B)	3, 5	D, E
1 (e)	3, 5	G, A

Box 3 · frets 5–8

C major pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 12 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the low E string at fret 8, the G string at fret 5 and the high e string at fret 8.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	5, 8	A, C
5 (A)	5, 7	D, E
4 (D)	5, 7	G, A
3 (G)	5, 7	C, D
2 (B)	5, 8	E, G
1 (e)	5, 8	A, C

Box 4 · frets 8–10

C major pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 10, 9 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to D on the high e string at fret 10. The root falls on the low E string at fret 8, the D string at fret 10 and the high e string at fret 8.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	8, 10	C, D
5 (A)	10	G
4 (D)	10	C
3 (G)	9	E
2 (B)	8, 10	G, A
1 (e)	8, 10	C, D

Box 5 · frets 10–13

C major pentatonic in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 11 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the D string at fret 10 and the B string at fret 13.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	10, 12	D, E
5 (A)	10, 12	G, A
4 (D)	10, 12	C, D
3 (G)	12	G
2 (B)	10, 13	A, C
1 (e)	10, 12	D, E

Why it sounds like that

C major pentatonic removes the fourth and seventh from C major, leaving intervals 1, 2, 3, 5, 6. The parent scale is C major. The omitted F and B remove the tritone and leading tone, creating a stable, consonant sound.

When to use it

C major pentatonic fits C major and C 5th chords, and it also works over D 5th and G 5th. Use it for folk, pop, and country in the key of C major. Try it over C major or C 5th.

Which position to practise

Learn Box 1 first. Its root on the fifth string, third fret is a common starting point that connects to the open C chord.

Common questions

What notes are in C major pentatonic?

C major pentatonic contains C, D, E, G, and A. These are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th degrees of the C major scale. The fourth and seventh are omitted.

Which chords does C major pentatonic fit?

C major pentatonic fits C major and C 5th chords directly. It also works over D 5th and G 5th in progressions. The scale avoids the fourth and seventh, so it rarely clashes.

Is C major pentatonic the same as A minor pentatonic?

C major pentatonic shares the same notes as A minor pentatonic. The difference is the tonal center: C major pentatonic resolves to C, while A minor pentatonic resolves to A.