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C♯ minor pentatonic scale on ukulele
C♯ minor pentatonic contains C♯, E, F♯, G♯, and B. Box 1 places the root on string 3, fret 1 and string 1, fret 4 for a low-position start.
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 1 to fret 4, 8 notes across 4 strings, from C♯ on the C string at fret 1 up to C♯ on the A string at fret 4. The root falls on the C string at fret 1 and the A string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1, 4 | G♯, B |
| 3 (C) | 1, 4 | C♯, E |
| 2 (E) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (A) | 2, 4 | B, C♯ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
C♯ minor pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 8 notes across 4 strings, from E on the C string at fret 4 up to E on the A string at fret 7. The root falls on the G string at fret 6 and the A string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4, 6 | B, C♯ |
| 3 (C) | 4, 6 | E, F♯ |
| 2 (E) | 4, 7 | G♯, B |
| 1 (A) | 4, 7 | C♯, E |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
C♯ minor pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 8 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the C string at fret 6 up to F♯ on the A string at fret 9. The root falls on the G string at fret 6 and the E string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6, 9 | C♯, E |
| 3 (C) | 6, 8 | F♯, G♯ |
| 2 (E) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
| 1 (A) | 7, 9 | E, F♯ |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ minor pentatonic removes 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. Add the ♭5 to form the C♯ blues minor scale.
When to use it
C♯ minor pentatonic fits C♯ minor and C♯ 5th chords, and works over rock and metal progressions in C♯ minor. The scale’s flat third and seventh provide a strong minor tonality.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first: the root sits on string 3, fret 1, covering frets 1–4 with a compact four-fret span.
Common questions
What notes are in C♯ minor pentatonic?
C♯ minor pentatonic contains C♯, E, F♯, G♯, and B. The scale omits the second and sixth degrees of C♯ natural minor. This five-note set is common in rock and metal soloing. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
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.