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