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C minor pentatonic scale on guitar
C minor pentatonic contains C, E♭, F, G, and B♭. Box 1 at frets 1–4 starts the root on string 5, fret 3 for an open-position feel.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭7
How do you play the C minor pentatonic scale on guitar?
C minor pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 11 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 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) | 1, 3 | F, G |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 3 | B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 4 | C, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3 | F, G |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
C minor pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 12 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. 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, 6 | G, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 6 | C, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 6 | G, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–8
C minor pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 8, 10 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the low E string at fret 8 and the high e string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 8 | B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8 | E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8 | F, G |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
C minor pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 12 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. 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, 11 | C, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 10 | F, G |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10 | B♭, C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 11 | G, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 11 | C, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–13
C minor pentatonic in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 13, 9 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the B string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 13 | B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 13 | E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 12 | G |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13 | B♭, C |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
C minor pentatonic removes the 2nd and 6th from C natural minor, leaving 1, ♭3, 4, 5, and ♭7. Add the ♭5 to get C blues minor. The step pattern is 1½, W, W, 1½, W.
When to use it
C minor pentatonic fits C minor and C 5th chords. Use it over C minor, E♭ major, and F 5th progressions in rock and blues. The B♭ note also works over B♭ 5th.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It covers frets 1–4 with the root on string 5, fret 3, giving an open-position feel for blues lines.
Common questions
What notes are in C minor pentatonic?
C minor pentatonic contains C, E♭, F, G, and B♭. The intervals are 1, ♭3, 4, 5, and ♭7. It omits the 2nd and 6th from C natural minor.
Which chords fit C minor pentatonic?
C minor pentatonic fits C minor and C 5th chords. It also works over E♭ major and F 5th. The B♭ note allows B♭ 5th in some contexts.
How is C minor pentatonic different from C blues minor?
C blues minor adds a ♭5 (G♭) to C minor pentatonic. The pentatonic has five notes; the blues has six. The extra note creates chromatic passing motion.