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C scottish pentatonic scale on guitar
C scottish pentatonic uses C, D, F, G, A. Box 1 spans frets 1–3 and places the root on the fifth string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
How do you play the C scottish pentatonic scale on guitar?
C scottish pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 3, 9 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) | 3 | C |
| 4 (D) | 3 | F |
| 3 (G) | 2 | A |
| 2 (B) | 1, 3 | C, D |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3 | F, G |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
C scottish pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 11 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) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 3 (G) | 5 | C |
| 2 (B) | 3, 6 | D, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 5 | G, A |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
C scottish 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, 8 | D, F |
| 4 (D) | 5, 7 | G, A |
| 3 (G) | 5, 7 | C, D |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8 | F, G |
| 1 (e) | 5, 8 | A, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–10
C scottish pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 10, 10 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) | 8, 10 | F, G |
| 4 (D) | 10 | C |
| 3 (G) | 10 | F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 10 | G, A |
| 1 (e) | 8, 10 | C, D |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
C scottish pentatonic in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 12 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. 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, 13 | D, F |
| 5 (A) | 10, 12 | G, A |
| 4 (D) | 10, 12 | C, D |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
| 2 (B) | 10, 13 | A, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 13 | D, F |
Why it sounds like that
Derive it from C major pentatonic by raising the third E to F, yielding 1–2–4–5–6. The step pattern W, 1½, W, W, 1½ creates a wide gap between D and F. See C major pentatonic for comparison; the raised third becomes the fourth.
When to use it
Use it over C5 and Csus2 chords for a suspended sound. It also fits D minor and F major progressions in rock or folk. Try C 5th and F major.
Which position to practise
Start with Box 1. It covers frets 1–3 with the root on string 5, fret 3, giving a low anchor for phrases.
Common questions
What notes are in C scottish pentatonic?
The notes are C, D, F, G, and A. They follow the intervals 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 from the C major scale. This omits the third and seventh degrees.
Which chords work with C scottish pentatonic?
C5 and Csus2 are the most direct fits because they avoid the third. D minor and F major also work well, since they share most of the scale tones. Use it over progressions in C major or A minor.
How does C scottish pentatonic differ from C major pentatonic?
C major pentatonic contains E, the major third. C scottish pentatonic replaces E with F, the fourth. This creates a suspended sound without a third.