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Guitar scale

F Major Pentatonic Scale

The F Major Pentatonic scale is F G A C D. It's shown below across all 24 frets: use the Shape menu to see each of the 5 positions, and press Play to hear it.

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01

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03

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F Major Pentatonic scale notes and formula

The F Major Pentatonic scale has 5 notes: F G A C D. Its formula is 1 2 3 5 6, and the gaps between the notes go W W W+H W W+H (W is a whole step of two frets, H is a half step of one fret). F Major Pentatonic has exactly the same notes as D minor pentatonic, its relative minor pentatonic, but it starts and resolves on F, which is what gives it its own sound.

Compared with F major, it leaves out the 4th (Bb) and the major 7th (E).

DegreeIntervalNameNote
11RootF
222ndG
33Major 3rdA
455thC
56Major 6thD

How to play F Major Pentatonic on guitar

The fretboard above shows F Major Pentatonic across all 24 frets. Its root, F, is on the low E string at the 1st fret, and Position 1 starts there. Use the Shape menu to see the 5 positions one at a time, press Play to hear the one you're looking at, and switch the labels to intervals to see where the root, 3rd and 5th sit in each shape.

Learn one position until you can play it up and down without looking, then learn the next one along and practise moving between the two. Before long the whole neck joins up.

What chords does F Major Pentatonic work over?

Use it over F major, Fmaj7 and F6 chords and over songs in F major. Mixing it with the F minor pentatonic over an F7 chord is a classic blues and country move.

What it sounds like and when to use it

The major pentatonic has a sweet, open sound that's all over country, southern rock, pop and major-key blues. It's the major scale with the 4th and 7th taken out, so there's nothing to clash.

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Major Pentatonic scale in other keys

Other scales starting on F

See every scale in every key →

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the F Major Pentatonic scale?

The F Major Pentatonic scale is F, G, A, C, D.

What is the formula for the major pentatonic scale?

The major pentatonic scale formula is 1 2 3 5 6, which is a step pattern of W W W+H W W+H.

How many positions does F Major Pentatonic have on guitar?

There are 5 positions. Use the Shape menu on this page to see each one on its own.

What is the difference between F Major Pentatonic and F major?

Compared with F major, it leaves out the 4th (Bb) and the major 7th (E).

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