What notes are in the minor pentatonic scale?

The formula is root, minor third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, and minor seventh. A minor pentatonic contains A, C, D, E, and G.

Pentatonic scale guitar

Five notes. One connected fretboard.

Q: Which pentatonic box should I learn first?

Start with Box 1 because it is widely used and easy to apply, then connect it to the neighboring Box 2 and Box 5.

Learn the minor pentatonic as a set of musical targets—not five isolated boxes. See the roots, connect neighboring positions, and practice each phrase in time.

Practice the scale →View the routine

Major & minor pentatonic · all keys · live feedback

A minor pentatonicBox 1 · fret 5

ACEGDEGACDEG

The same five pitch classes repeat across every string and position.

The five-note formula

Remove two notes. Keep the character.

The minor pentatonic uses scale degrees 1, ♭3, 4, 5, and ♭7. In A, those notes are A, C, D, E, and G. The missing second and sixth reduce half-step clashes, which makes the scale approachable for improvisation.

ACDEG

01 / ROOT

Know where “home” is

Mark every root in the shape. Begin and end phrases there until the key feels stable.

02 / CONNECT

Join adjacent boxes

Cross the boundary on one pair of strings instead of jumping between memorized diagrams.

03 / PHRASE

Leave space

Use bends, rhythm, repetition, and rests so five notes become a musical statement.

15-minute routine

From Box 1 to real phrases.

Keep the tempo slow enough to hear the scale degrees and land cleanly on each beat.

Map Box 1 and its roots

Play A minor pentatonic at fret 5. Say “root” each time you reach an A.

Pass when: You can ascend and descend at 60 BPM without losing the beat or missing a root.

Connect Box 1 to Box 2

Move into the next position on strings 1–2, then return through strings 3–4. Keep the motion small and deliberate.

Practice: In GuitarRun, use the position connection mode and watch the next shape appear on the fretboard.

Create a two-bar answer

Play a short phrase, leave space, then answer it with a variation that ends on a root.

Pass when: Your second phrase sounds related without being an exact copy.

Common questions

Pentatonic scale FAQ

Which pentatonic box should I learn first?

Start with Box 1, then learn the neighboring Box 2 and Box 5. Connecting nearby positions is more useful than memorizing five disconnected diagrams.

What notes are in A minor pentatonic?

A, C, D, E, and G—the root, minor third, fourth, fifth, and minor seventh.

Can I use minor pentatonic over major chords?

Often, especially in blues and rock, but the sound depends on the harmony. Listen to how the minor third rubs against a major third in the chord and resolve it intentionally.

Keep learning

Related GuitarRun guides

Stop running boxes

Practice the connections you want to hear.

Choose a key, select Minor Pentatonic, and make every note count.

Start pentatonic practice →