F minor pentatonic scale on guitar
The F minor pentatonic scale has 5 notes: F, A♭, B♭, C and E♭. The most-used soloing scale in rock and blues. Five notes, no half steps between them, and a shape that sits under the fingers: it is usually the first scale guitarists learn.
Notes in F minor pentatonic
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7
- Step pattern
- W+H – W – W – W+H – W
- Notes
- 5
Tap a note to hear it.
F minor pentatonic across the neck
Every F minor pentatonic note on the first 12 frets in standard tuning. Filled dots are the root, F. A good place to start: F on the low E string is at fret 1, so play the notes between frets 0 and 4 first, then move up the neck.
Intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval from F |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Root |
| ♭3 | A♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | B♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | C | Perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | E♭ | Minor 7th |
Chords to play F minor pentatonic over
The F minor pentatonic scale fits the main chords of the F minor key:
It is also the classic choice over a twelve-bar blues in F: F7, B♭7, C7.
Related scales
- It uses exactly the same five notes as A♭ major pentatonic, so one shape covers both.
- Add the ♭5 for F blues, or fill in the 2nd and ♭6th for F minor.
Questions
What notes are in the F minor pentatonic scale?
F, A♭, B♭, C, E♭. Its formula is 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7.
Where do I start the F minor pentatonic scale on guitar?
F on the low E string is at fret 1, so play the notes between frets 0 and 4 first. The fretboard map on this page shows every F minor pentatonic note on the first 12 frets.
What scales are related to F minor pentatonic?
It uses exactly the same five notes as A♭ major pentatonic, so one shape covers both.
More scales
Minor pentatonic in every key
Other scales from F