Explore scales · Ukulele
C minor pentatonic scale on ukulele
C minor pentatonic contains C, E♭, F, G, and B♭. Box 1 roots on string 4, fret 5 and string 1, fret 3 for a low-position grip.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭7
How do you play the C minor pentatonic scale on ukulele?
C minor pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 8 notes across 4 strings, from C on the C string at fret 0 up to C on the A string at fret 3. The root falls on the C string at fret 0 and the A string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 0, 3 | G, B♭ |
| 3 (C) | 0, 3 | C, E♭ |
| 2 (E) | 1, 3 | F, G |
| 1 (A) | 1, 3 | B♭, C |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
C minor pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 8 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the C string at fret 3 up to E♭ on the A string at fret 6. The root falls on the G string at fret 5 and the A string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
| 3 (C) | 3, 5 | E♭, F |
| 2 (E) | 3, 6 | G, B♭ |
| 1 (A) | 3, 6 | C, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
C minor pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 8 notes across 4 strings, from F on the C string at fret 5 up to F on the A string at fret 8. The root falls on the G string at fret 5 and the E string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5, 8 | C, E♭ |
| 3 (C) | 5, 7 | F, G |
| 2 (E) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
| 1 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
C minor pentatonic drops the second and sixth degrees from C natural minor, leaving 1, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭7. The intervals are 0, 3, 5, 7, 10 semitones, with steps of 1½, whole, whole, 1½, whole. Adding a ♭5 creates the C blues minor scale.
When to use it
C minor pentatonic fits C minor and C 5th chords, and suits blues, rock, and jazz in C minor. The flat third and seventh give a classic minor pentatonic sound.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first: the root sits on string 4, fret 5, covering frets 0–3 with an easy reach to the open first string.
Common questions
What notes are in C minor pentatonic?
C minor pentatonic contains C, E♭, F, G, and B♭. The scale drops the second and sixth degrees from C natural minor. This five-note set is widely used in blues and rock.
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 in a progression. The scale avoids notes that clash with these chords.
How does C minor pentatonic relate to C blues minor?
C minor pentatonic adds a ♭5 to become C blues minor. The blues scale has six notes instead of five. That extra note is the blue note between the fourth and fifth.