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C♯ minor pentatonic scale on guitar
C♯ minor pentatonic contains C♯, E, F♯, G♯, and B. Box 1 at frets 0–2 places the root on string 5, fret 4 for a low, bright start.
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 0 to fret 2, 9 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 B string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 2 | E, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 2 | B |
| 4 (D) | 2 | E |
| 3 (G) | 1 | G♯ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 2 | B, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 2 | E, F♯ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
C♯ minor pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 11 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to G♯ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the B string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
| 5 (A) | 2, 4 | B, C♯ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 4 | E, F♯ |
| 3 (G) | 4 | B |
| 2 (B) | 2, 5 | C♯, E |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
C♯ minor pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 12 notes across 6 strings, from G♯ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the G string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 7 | G♯, B |
| 5 (A) | 4, 7 | C♯, E |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | F♯, G♯ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6 | B, C♯ |
| 2 (B) | 5, 7 | E, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 7 | G♯, B |
Box 4 · frets 7–9
C♯ minor pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 9, 10 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 low E string at fret 9 and the high e string at fret 9.
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) | 9 | B |
| 3 (G) | 9 | E |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9 | F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
C♯ minor 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 low E string at fret 9, the D string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 12 | C♯, E |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11 | F♯, G♯ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11 | B, C♯ |
| 3 (G) | 9, 11 | E, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 12 | G♯, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 12 | C♯, E |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ minor pentatonic drops 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 0–2 with the root on string 5, fret 4, giving a low, bright foundation 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. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
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.