C Pentatonic Minor Scale

The most important scale a rock or blues guitarist can learn.

Labels

Root KeyC C#D D#E F F#G G#A A#B

Full neck(1 / 6)

Tap any note on the fretboard to hear it. Root notes are highlighted in brand blue and marked R in interval mode.

Root

C

Formula

1 b3 4 5 b7

Notes

C D# F G A#

Difficulty

Beginner

Common Genres

BluesRockMetal

Famous Guitarists Who Use It

Jimmy Page · Eric Clapton · Angus Young

Signature Licks & Ideas

The Jimmy Page 'Since I've Been Loving You' bend — 4 to 5.
Box shape 1 at the root fret is where 90% of rock solos live.

How to Practice

Play the scale one octave, ascending and descending, on a single string first.
Then play it across the strings in position — index finger anchored on the root fret.
Loop it slowly with a metronome (start at 60 bpm) before pushing tempo.
Improvise over a backing track in the same key — target the root note on beat 1.

Try This Scale in Another Key

C Pentatonic Minor C# Pentatonic Minor D Pentatonic Minor D# Pentatonic Minor E Pentatonic Minor F Pentatonic Minor F# Pentatonic Minor G Pentatonic Minor G# Pentatonic Minor A Pentatonic Minor A# Pentatonic Minor B Pentatonic Minor

Related Scales in C

C Major C Natural Minor C Pentatonic Major C Blues C Harmonic Minor C Melodic Minor C Dorian C Mixolydian

Practice Essentials

Editor-picked gear that makes practice easier. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Boss DB-30 Dr. Beat

Compact, loud enough for practice — polyrhythm support.

Korg TM-60 Tuner-Metronome

Combo device that hangs off a music stand.

Soundbrenner Pulse

Wearable vibrating metronome — feel the click.

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