Minor pentatonic · Key of A

A Minor Pentatonic Scale on Guitar

The A minor pentatonic scale is A – C – D – E – G, built with the formula 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7. Start on the 5th fret of the low E string: it is the first of five box shapes that together cover the whole neck.

Fretboard

Position

Open

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••

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All positions

The boxes overlap and cover the neck. Pick one to see its shape and where the root sits.

Root (A)
Scale note

Play along

Start the audio and play along with your guitar! Use the notes of A minor pentatonic. When the chord changes, land on the notes that light up on the fretboard.

100

BPM

i – ♭VII – ♭VI – ♭VII · a 4-bar loop. Press start, then use the notes above.

The 5 positions

Each box has two notes per string. Position 1 starts on the root; the next ones start on the following notes of the scale and climb the neck.

Position 1

Frets 5–8

Position 2

Frets 7–10

Position 3

Frets 9–13

Position 4

Frets 12–15

Position 5

Frets 2–5

Chords that go with A minor pentatonic

Every chord tone below is checked against the scale. A note in red is outside it: the chord still works, and that note is where the tension comes from.

Fits completely · every tone is in the scale

Am A C E
Am7 A C E G
Asus4 A D E
C C E G
Csus2 C D G
Dsus2 D E A
Dsus4 D G A
Gsus2 G A D
Gsus4 G C D

One note outside the scale · chords of natural minor

Dm DFA
Em EGB
F FAC
G GBD

Print the chart

One A4 sheet: the fretboard from the open strings to the 15th fret, all 5 positions with their root notes, and the chords that fit. Black and white, so it prints cleanly.

Download PDF · A4 · 243 KB Download PNG · 239 KB

Printable A4 chart of the A minor pentatonic scale: the fretboard, the 5 positions and the chords that fit

Questions about A minor pentatonic

What notes are in the A minor pentatonic scale?

A, C, D, E and G. It is the A natural minor scale (A B C D E F G) with the 2nd and 6th taken out (B and F), which leaves five notes and no half steps.

Where do I start on the guitar?

Put your index finger on the 5th fret of the low E string, which is the root note A. Position 1 spans frets 5–8 and uses two notes on each string.

What is the difference between A minor pentatonic and C major pentatonic?

They contain the same five notes. The only difference is which note you treat as home: play it over an Am chord and it is A minor pentatonic, over a C chord and it is C major pentatonic.

Hear A minor pentatonic over a band

Loop a progression in the Chord Player, pick a rhythm and solo along with the positions above.

Open Chord Player