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F♯ scottish pentatonic scale on guitar
F♯ scottish pentatonic uses F♯, G♯, B, C♯, D♯. Box 1 spans frets 2–4 and places the root on the sixth string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
How do you play the F♯ scottish pentatonic scale on guitar?
F♯ scottish pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 2 to fret 4, 10 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 low E string at fret 2, the D string at fret 4 and the high e 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) | 4 | F♯ |
| 3 (G) | 4 | B |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4 | C♯, D♯ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
F♯ scottish pentatonic in box 2 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 D string at fret 4 and the B string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 7 | G♯, B |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6 | C♯, D♯ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | F♯, G♯ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6 | B, C♯ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 7 | D♯, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 7 | G♯, B |
Box 3 · frets 7–9
F♯ scottish pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 9, 9 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 A string at fret 9 and the B string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 9 | F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 9 | B |
| 3 (G) | 8 | D♯ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9 | F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
F♯ scottish pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 11 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 A string at fret 9 and the G string at fret 11.
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) | 9, 11 | B, C♯ |
| 3 (G) | 11 | F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 12 | G♯, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11 | C♯, D♯ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
F♯ 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 low E string at fret 14, the G string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 14.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 14 | D♯, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 14 | G♯, B |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | C♯, D♯ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 13 | F♯, G♯ |
| 2 (B) | 12, 14 | B, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 14 | D♯, F♯ |
Why it sounds like that
Derive it from F♯ major pentatonic by raising the third A♯ to B, yielding 1–2–4–5–6. The step pattern W, 1½, W, W, 1½ creates a wide gap between G♯ and B. See F♯ major pentatonic for comparison; the raised third becomes the fourth.
When to use it
Use it over F♯5 and F♯sus2 chords for a suspended sound. It also fits G♯ minor and B major progressions in rock or folk. Try F♯ 5th and B major.
Which position to practise
Start with Box 1. It covers frets 2–4 with the root on string 6, fret 2, giving a low anchor for phrases.
Common questions
What notes are in F♯ scottish pentatonic?
The notes are F♯, G♯, B, C♯, and D♯. They follow the intervals 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 from the F♯ major scale. This omits the third and seventh degrees. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords work with F♯ scottish pentatonic?
F♯5 and F♯sus2 are the most direct fits because they avoid the third. G♯ minor and B major also work well, since they share most of the scale tones. Use it over progressions in F♯ major or D♯ minor.
How does F♯ scottish pentatonic differ from F♯ major pentatonic?
F♯ major pentatonic contains A♯, the major third. F♯ scottish pentatonic replaces A♯ with B, the fourth. This creates a suspended sound without a third.