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C♯ scottish pentatonic scale on guitar
C♯ scottish pentatonic uses C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯, A♯. Box 1 spans frets 2–4 with 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 2 to fret 4, 9 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) | 4 | C♯ |
| 4 (D) | 4 | F♯ |
| 3 (G) | 3 | A♯ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4 | C♯, D♯ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
C♯ scottish pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 11 notes across 6 strings, from G♯ on the low E string at fret 4 up to A♯ on the high e string at fret 6. 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, 6 | G♯, A♯ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6 | C♯, D♯ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | F♯, G♯ |
| 3 (G) | 6 | C♯ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 7 | D♯, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6 | G♯, A♯ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
C♯ scottish pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 12 notes across 6 strings, from A♯ on the low E string at fret 6 up to C♯ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the low E string at fret 9, the G string at fret 6 and the high e string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 9 | A♯, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 9 | D♯, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | G♯, A♯ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8 | C♯, D♯ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9 | F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 9 | A♯, C♯ |
Box 4 · frets 9–11
C♯ scottish pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 11, 10 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to D♯ on the high e string at fret 11. 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, 11 | C♯, D♯ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11 | F♯, G♯ |
| 4 (D) | 11 | C♯ |
| 3 (G) | 11 | F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11 | G♯, A♯ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11 | C♯, D♯ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
C♯ scottish pentatonic in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 12 notes across 6 strings, from D♯ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the D string at fret 11 and the B string at fret 14.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 14 | D♯, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13 | G♯, A♯ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | C♯, D♯ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 13 | F♯, G♯ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 14 | A♯, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 14 | D♯, F♯ |
Why it sounds like that
Raise the third E♯ of C♯ major pentatonic to F♯, producing 1–2–4–5–6. The step pattern W, 1½, W, W, 1½ places a wide gap between D♯ and F♯. Compare with C♯ major pentatonic to hear the suspended fourth replace the major third.
When to use it
Use it over C♯5 and C♯sus2 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
Practise Box 1 first. It covers frets 2–4 with the root on string 5, fret 4, making it easy to anchor 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. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords work with C♯ scottish pentatonic?
C♯5 and C♯sus2 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.