C minor pentatonic
A five-note scale built on C: root, minor third, fourth, fifth and minor seventh. The most widely used scale for improvising in rock and blues.
- Notes:
- C, E♭, F, G, B♭.
- Formula:
- 1, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭7.
- Style:
- Rock, blues, pop.
- Difficulty:
- Beginner.
On the neck
Every note of the scale on the neck (choose 12, 15 or 19 frets). Click to listen.
High E at the top, just like in tab.Neck seen from the front, headstock at the top: low E on the left, just like a chord diagram.
Play the scale notes over it. Open in the Studio
Chords that go with it
The chords built on the notes of the scale: improvise with this scale over any progression that uses them.
Progressions to use it on
Loop the first one and improvise over it:
All 5 positions
Each position covers all six strings, with two notes per string. Position 1 starts on the root, on the 6th string.
Position 1: frets 8 to 11
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|--------------------------8-11-| B|---------------------8-11------| G|----------------8-10-----------| D|-----------8-10----------------| A|------8-10---------------------| E|-8-11--------------------------|
Position 2: frets 10 to 13
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------11-13-| B|-------------------------11-13-------| G|-------------------10-12-------------| D|-------------10-13-------------------| A|-------10-13-------------------------| E|-11-13-------------------------------|
Position 3: frets 0 to 4
It also works an octave higher, frets 12 to 16.
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|---------------------1-3-| B|-----------------1-4-----| G|-------------0-3---------| D|---------1-3-------------| A|-----1-3-----------------| E|-1-3---------------------|
Position 4: frets 3 to 6
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|---------------------3-6-| B|-----------------4-6-----| G|-------------3-5---------| D|---------3-5-------------| A|-----3-6-----------------| E|-3-6---------------------|
Position 5: frets 5 to 8
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|---------------------6-8-| B|-----------------6-8-----| G|-------------5-8---------| D|---------5-8-------------| A|-----6-8-----------------| E|-6-8---------------------|