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