Minor Pentatonic Scale: 5 Shapes Across the Fretboard

The minor pentatonic scale is the most-used scale in rock, blues, and pop lead guitar. Five notes per octave (compared to seven in the major scale), which means there are no "wrong notes" to worry about while soloing. Almost any combination of pentatonic notes sounds musical over a chord in the right key.

This is why beginners learn the minor pentatonic before any other scale. It's hard to sound bad with it.

The Minor Pentatonic Formula

From any starting note: 1, b3, 4, 5, b7.

For A minor pentatonic: A, C, D, E, G. Five notes. Same notes as A natural minor (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) with the 2nd (B) and 6th (F) removed.

Shape 1 (Box 1, E-Shape Position)

The most-used pentatonic shape on guitar. For A minor pentatonic, starts at the 5th fret.

• 5th fret on the 6th string (A): index
• 8th fret on the 6th string (C): pinky
• 5th fret on the 5th string (D): index
• 7th fret on the 5th string (E): ring
• 5th fret on the 4th string (G): index
• 7th fret on the 4th string (A): ring
• 5th fret on the 3rd string (C): index
• 7th fret on the 3rd string (D): ring
• 5th fret on the 2nd string (E): index
• 8th fret on the 2nd string (G): pinky
• 5th fret on the 1st string (A): index
• 8th fret on the 1st string (C): pinky

This is the box every blues guitarist learns first. The shape is two-frets-per-string except on strings 6, 2, and 1 where it stretches to three frets.

The Other Four Shapes

The minor pentatonic has five shapes total, each connecting to the next as you move up the neck. Most beginners learn Shape 1 first and add the others over months.

For A minor pentatonic, the shapes start at frets 5 (Shape 1), 7-8 (Shape 2), 10 (Shape 3), 12 (Shape 4), and 14-15 (Shape 5). Together they tile the neck.

The Blues Scale

The blues scale is the minor pentatonic with one added note: the b5 (also called the "blue note"). For A minor pentatonic, the blue note is Eb. Adding it to the scale: A, C, D, Eb, E, G.

The blue note creates the bluesy tension that defines the blues sound. It usually slides between D and E rather than sitting as a stable note.

Songs That Use the Minor Pentatonic

• Almost every blues song
• Most classic rock solos (Hendrix, Page, Clapton)
• Most metal solos (in their pentatonic-based moments)
• Pop solos that sound bluesy

Sources

The pentatonic scale is foundational in many world musics. References: MusicTheory.net covers pentatonic theory. JustinGuitar's blues course teaches the pentatonic shapes in detail. Berklee Online covers pentatonic and blues scales in their improvisation courses.

FAQ: Minor Pentatonic Questions

Why is the pentatonic so easy to solo with?

Because the two notes that the major and natural minor scales include (the 2nd and 6th) are the most likely to sound dissonant against the harmony. Removing them eliminates most of the "wrong note" risk.

What's the difference between major pentatonic and minor pentatonic?

The starting note. Both are five-note scales. Major pentatonic uses 1-2-3-5-6 (no 4 or 7). Minor pentatonic uses 1-b3-4-5-b7 (no 2 or 6). They contain different notes but related shapes.

Should I learn major or minor pentatonic first?

Minor. It's used in more popular songs and the shape is the same one every rock guitarist starts with.

What's the easiest pentatonic shape to start with?

Shape 1 (box 1). It sits comfortably under four fingers and covers the most common solo positions.

How long until I can solo with the pentatonic?

You can play notes in tune within a week. Sounding musical takes months. The notes are easy; the phrasing is hard.