Guitar scale reference
F Minor Pentatonic scale on guitar: five CAGED positions
Minor pentatonic is a five-note framework built from 1, ♭3, 4, 5 and ♭7. Its repeated shapes are familiar to many players; the deeper task is locating intervals and joining the shapes deliberately.
What gives the scale its sound
The minor 3rd and flattened 7th carry most of the colour. Knowing exactly where they sit prevents the pattern from becoming a collection of anonymous boxes.
- Interval formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭7
- Notes in F
- F · A♭ · B♭ · C · E♭
F Minor Pentatonic across the neck
The five views overlap. Root notes are highlighted; use interval labels first, then confirm the spelled notes above.
Position 1 · E shape · frets 0–4
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------1--4--1-------------------------------| B|-------------------------1--4-----------4--1-------------------------| G|-------------------1--3-----------------------3--1-------------------| D|-------------1--3-----------------------------------3--1-------------| A|-------1--3-----------------------------------------------3--1-------| E|-1--4-----------------------------------------------------------4--1-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 2–6
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------4--6--4-------------------------------| B|-------------------------4--6-----------6--4-------------------------| G|-------------------3--5-----------------------5--3-------------------| D|-------------3--6-----------------------------------6--3-------------| A|-------3--6-----------------------------------------------6--3-------| E|-4--6-----------------------------------------------------------6--4-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 4–8
Ascending and descending tab
e|----------------------------------4--6--8--6--4----------------------------------| B|----------------------------4--6-----------------6--4----------------------------| G|----------------------5--8-----------------------------8--5----------------------| D|----------------6--8-----------------------------------------8--6----------------| A|----------6--8-----------------------------------------------------8--6----------| E|-4--6--8-----------------------------------------------------------------8--6--4-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 7–11
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------8-11--8-------------------------------| B|-------------------------9-11----------11--9-------------------------| G|-------------------8-10----------------------10--8-------------------| D|-------------8-10----------------------------------10--8-------------| A|-------8-11----------------------------------------------11--8-------| E|-8-11----------------------------------------------------------11--8-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 9–13
Ascending and descending tab
e|---------------------------------11-13-11----------------------------------| B|-------------------------9-11-13----------13-11--9-------------------------| G|------------------10-13----------------------------13-10-------------------| D|------------10-13----------------------------------------13-10-------------| A|------11-13----------------------------------------------------13-11-------| E|11-13----------------------------------------------------------------13-11-|
Practice drill
Restrict each pass to three strings and name every interval. On the next pass, cross into the neighbouring CAGED position at the nearest root or flattened 3rd.
Use the guitar scale practice guide to turn the diagram into a recall, connection and phrasing routine.
If the interval formula or five-position layout is new, begin with the beginner guitar scale guide.
Open the scale randomiser