Explore scales · Ukulele
F minor pentatonic scale on ukulele
F minor pentatonic contains F, A♭, B♭, C, and E♭. Box 1 roots on string 3, fret 5 and string 2, fret 1 for a low-position start.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭7
How do you play the F minor pentatonic scale on ukulele?
F 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 C string at fret 5.
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) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (A) | 3, 6 | C, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
F 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 C string at fret 5 and the A string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5, 8 | C, E♭ |
| 3 (C) | 5, 8 | F, A♭ |
| 2 (E) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
| 1 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
F minor pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 8 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the C string at fret 8 up to A♭ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the G string at fret 10 and the A string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 3 (C) | 8, 10 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (E) | 8, 11 | C, E♭ |
| 1 (A) | 8, 11 | F, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
F minor pentatonic removes the second and sixth degrees from F 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 F blues minor scale.
When to use it
F minor pentatonic fits F minor and F 5th chords, and works over rock and metal progressions in F 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 5, covering frets 3–6 with a compact four-fret span.
Common questions
What notes are in F minor pentatonic?
F minor pentatonic contains F, A♭, B♭, C, and E♭. The scale omits the second and sixth degrees of F natural minor. This five-note set is common in rock and metal soloing.
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 in a progression. The scale avoids notes that clash with these chords.
How does F minor pentatonic relate to F blues minor?
F minor pentatonic adds a ♭5 to become F blues minor. The blues scale has six notes instead of five. That extra note is the blue note between the fourth and fifth.