C# Major Pentatonic on the Fretboard
C#, D#, E#, G# and A# are the notes of the C# major pentatonic scale. E# looks odd but is simply F, so the key is easier to play than to read. Db major pentatonic spells the same sound with flats.
Your first box starts on the 9th fret of the low E string, and a lower one begins on the 4th fret of the A string. Try it over a 12-bar blues to hear the major flavour against dominant chords.
Play the C# major pentatonic scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the C# major pentatonic scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| C# | 1 | Root | 0 |
| D# | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| E# | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| G# | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| A# | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
Structure
C# major pentatonic scale notes:
How the major pentatonic scale is built:
The major pentatonic scale is built from the degrees 1 2 3 5 6, which gives the step pattern W-W-W+H-W-W+H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 4, 7, 9. That makes it a 5-note scale.
C# Major Pentatonic Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (B)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
The major pentatonic scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
