C♯ Minor Pentatonic Scale (C#)
The C# minor pentatonic scale contains C# – E – F# – G# – B. It is C# minor without its 2nd (D#) and 6th (A), so it is usually written in the key signature of C# minor: 4 sharps: F#, C#, G# and D#.
C# minor pentatonic scale chart
Pentatonic and blues scales have no standard book fingering, so none is shown here. Pick fingers that keep your thumb off the black keys.
C# minor pentatonic vs C# minor
| Degree | 1 | 2 | b3 | 4 | 5 | b6 | b7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A | B |
| Pentatonic | C# | – | E | F# | G# | – | B |
D# and A are the two notes of C# minor that sit a half step from a neighbour. Without them the scale has no half steps at all. Its relative is E major pentatonic, which uses the same five keys starting from E. Add one note and it becomes C# blues.
What C# minor pentatonic is used for
This is the first scale most rock and blues players learn to solo with. It fits over C#m and C#m7, over a minor song in the key of C# minor, and over a blues in C#, where its E rubs against the major 3rd of the C# chord on purpose.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from C# | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| C# | 1 | root | 0 |
| E | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| F# | 4 | perfect 4th | 5 |
| G# | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| B | b7 | minor 7th | 10 |
Step pattern
The minor pentatonic scale is built from the pattern W+H – W – W – W+H – W (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = three semitones). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same scale in a different key.
Key signature
C# minor has 4 sharps: F#, C#, G# and D#. The pentatonic plays C#, E, F#, G# and B, so D# and A simply never sound.
Chords using only these notes
Five notes leave room for few chords, so each of these can be played with C# minor pentatonic alone.
| Chord | Notes |
|---|---|
| C#m | C# E G# |
| C#m7 | C# E G# B |
| C#sus4 | C# F# G# |
| E | E G# B |
| Esus2 | E F# B |
| Emaj6 | E G# B C# |
| F#sus2 | F# G# C# |
| F#sus4 | F# B C# |
| Bsus2 | B C# F# |
| Bsus4 | B E F# |
More scales on C#
Minor Pentatonic scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C# minor pentatonic scale?
The C# minor pentatonic scale contains C#, E, F#, G#, B, then returns to C# an octave higher.
Which notes does C# minor pentatonic leave out of C# minor?
The 2nd, D#, and the 6th, A. What remains is C#, E, F#, G#, B.
What is the relative major pentatonic of C# minor pentatonic?
E major pentatonic. It uses the same five keys, with E as its tonic.
What is the step pattern of the minor pentatonic scale?
It follows the pattern W+H – W – W – W+H – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones), H is a half step (one semitone) and W+H is three semitones.