Explore scales · Ukulele
F♯ minor pentatonic scale on ukulele
F♯ minor pentatonic contains F♯, A, B, C♯, and E. Box 1 places the root on string 3, fret 6 and string 2, fret 2 for a mid-neck grip.
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 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 C string at fret 6.
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) | 5, 7 | A, B |
| 1 (A) | 4, 7 | C♯, E |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
F♯ 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 C string at fret 6 and the A string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6, 9 | C♯, E |
| 3 (C) | 6, 9 | F♯, A |
| 2 (E) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
| 1 (A) | 7, 9 | E, F♯ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
F♯ minor pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 8 notes across 4 strings, from A on the C string at fret 9 up to A on the A string at fret 12. The root falls on the G string at fret 11 and the A string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9, 11 | E, F♯ |
| 3 (C) | 9, 11 | A, B |
| 2 (E) | 9, 12 | C♯, E |
| 1 (A) | 9, 12 | F♯, A |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ minor pentatonic drops 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. Adding a ♭5 creates the F♯ blues minor scale.
When to use it
F♯ minor pentatonic fits F♯ minor and F♯ 5th chords, and suits blues, rock, and metal in F♯ 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 3, fret 6, covering frets 4–7 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 drops the second and sixth degrees from F♯ natural minor. This five-note set is widely used in blues and rock. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
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.