F Pentatonic Minor

Fm Pentatonic scale for guitar.
The F Pentatonic Minor is a five-note scale. The diagram shows a fingerboard with the notes in the scale. Darker color marks the root notes. In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 1st fret.

F Pentatonic Minor 2 octaves

F Pentatonic Minor scale diagram

F Pentatonic Minor full fretboard

F Pentatonic Minor scale whole guitar neck diagram

F Pentatonic Minor with note names

F Pentatonic Minor scale with note letters diagram

Shape 1 (1st position) with fingerings

F Pentatonic Minor scale shape 1 diagram

Shape 2 (3rd position) with fingerings

F Pentatonic Minor scale shape 2 diagram

Shape 3 (5th position) with fingerings

F Pentatonic Minor scale shape 3 diagram

Shape 4 (8th position) with fingerings

F Pentatonic Minor scale shape 4 diagram

Shape 5 (10th position) with fingerings

F Pentatonic Minor scale shape 5 diagram
Notes: F - Ab - Bb - C - Eb Intervals: 3 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 Type: Pentatonic

The scale and its scale degrees.

Formula Notes
1 F
b3 Ab
4 Bb
5 C
b7 Eb

The second and the sixth degrees are omitted, for the reason that the degrees are based on the natural Minor seven-note scale.

The interval formula (3 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 2) can be expound into specific notes of the scale.

Notes (ascending) Interval
F-Ab m3
F-Bb P4
F-C P5
F-Eb m7

Abbreviations are used: M / m stands for major / minor and P stands for perfect.

Notes (descending) Interval
F-Eb M2
F-C P4
F-Bb P5
F-Ab M6

The notes in the scale can be described as intervals, written as 3 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 from the first note to the first in next octave.
The F Pentatonic Minor is relative to Ab Pentatonic Major. Both scales include the same notes but has different root notes.

Some of the chords that are related to this scale are listed here:

  • Fm
  • Ab
  • Bbm7
  • Cm7
  • Eb5

The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the F Pentatonic Minor scale. Notice that the match is not completely exact, the third (Db) in Bbm7 and the fifth (G) in Cm7 are not included in the scale.

Related to this scale is the F Pentatonic Minor add2, adding the 2nd degree. It can be displayed as follows:

Formula Notes Intervals Degrees
1 F Unison Tonic
2 G Major second Supertonic
b3 Ab Minor third Mediant
4 Bb Perfect fourth Subdominant
5 C Perfect fifth Dominant
b7 Eb Minor seventh Subtonic

The F Pentatonic Minor add2 scale, is identical with the F Minor except for missing the major 6th interval.

Start the audio and play along! Use notes from the scale in the diagram above.

Normal tempo:
Slow tempo:

F Pentatonic Minor scale first shape ascending.

F Pentatonic Minor scale tab

The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.