C♯ Minor Pentatonic Scale on Guitar: Notes, Shapes and Positions

The C♯ minor pentatonic scale is C♯, E, F♯, G♯ and B. Its formula is 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7. Start with the root on the low E string at the 9th fret, then learn the five positions below, from the Cm shape at the 1st fret up the neck.

Keys

C♯ Minor Pentatonic Scale: 5 Positions

1Cm shape
4Am shape
6Gm shape
9Em shape
11Dm shape

CAGED Chords — C♯m

1C shape
4A shape
6G shape
9E shape
11D shape

Triads — C♯m

Root position

1C shape
4A shape
6G shape
9E shape

Notes and formula

Degree1♭345♭7
NoteC♯EF♯G♯B

C♯ minor pentatonic takes five notes from C♯ minor and leaves out D♯ and A, the 2nd and ♭6th. With no half steps between neighbouring notes, it is hard to land on a note that clashes with the chords of the key.

It's the same pitch as D♭: D♭ minor would need double flats. This page uses C♯ because it needs fewer accidentals, so every note is spelled with one letter each (C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A and B).

The C♯ minor pentatonic scale across the whole neck

Every C♯ minor pentatonic scale note from the nut to the 15th fret: E on the low E string, fret 0; F sharp on the low E string, fret 2; G sharp on the low E string, fret 4; B on the low E string, fret 7; C sharp (root) on the low E string, fret 9; E on the low E string, fret 12; F sharp on the low E string, fret 14; B on the A string, fret 2; C sharp (root) on the A string, fret 4; E on the A string, fret 7; F sharp on the A string, fret 9; G sharp on the A string, fret 11; B on the A string, fret 14; E on the D string, fret 2; F sharp on the D string, fret 4; G sharp on the D string, fret 6; B on the D string, fret 9; C sharp (root) on the D string, fret 11; E on the D string, fret 14; G sharp on the G string, fret 1; B on the G string, fret 4; C sharp (root) on the G string, fret 6; E on the G string, fret 9; F sharp on the G string, fret 11; G sharp on the G string, fret 13; B on the B string, fret 0; C sharp (root) on the B string, fret 2; E on the B string, fret 5; F sharp on the B string, fret 7; G sharp on the B string, fret 9; B on the B string, fret 12; C sharp (root) on the B string, fret 14; E on the high e string, fret 0; F sharp on the high e string, fret 2; G sharp on the high e string, fret 4; B on the high e string, fret 7; C sharp (root) on the high e string, fret 9; E on the high e string, fret 12; F sharp on the high e string, fret 14.

C♯ Minor Pentatonic scale, frets 0–15. Roots (C♯) in green.

The root, C♯, sits on the low E string at fret 9 and on the A string at fret 4. Those are the anchors every position is built around.

Three of the six open strings belong to C♯ minor pentatonic (E, B and high e), so they can ring against fretted notes; the others will clash.

Position by position: Cm shape from the 1st fret; Am shape from the 4th fret; Gm shape from the 6th fret; Em shape from the 9th fret; Dm shape from the 11th fret.

What to play C♯ minor pentatonic over

Play it over C♯m chords, a minor-key progression in C♯, or a C♯ blues. Its five notes are also E major pentatonic, so the same shapes work over E major with E as home.

Add the ♭5, G, and it becomes the C♯ blues scale.

The nearest keys are a fifth away: G♯ minor pentatonic differs by one note: D♯ instead of E; F♯ minor pentatonic differs by one note: A instead of G♯.

To learn it, play the Cm shape from the 1st fret slowly, saying each note name, then link it to the next position up. Land on C♯ at the end of each run, and you'll hear the scale settle on its root.

C♯ Minor Pentatonic scale FAQs

Which notes make up the C♯ minor pentatonic scale?

C♯, E, F♯, G♯ and B. The formula is 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7.

Which scale has the same notes as C♯ minor pentatonic?

E major pentatonic. The five notes are identical; only the root changes.

Where do I play the C♯ minor pentatonic scale on guitar?

Start from the root on the low E string at the 9th fret. The Cm shape from the 1st fret is the lowest of the five positions, and the other four continue up the neck to the 12th fret and beyond.

Learn more

The pentatonic scale on guitar explains how the scale is built and how to use it, and the pentatonic scale guitar lessons set out what to learn next. The scale library has every scale in every key.