F♯ Minor Pentatonic Scale (F#)
The F# minor pentatonic scale contains F# – A – B – C# – E. It is F# minor without its 2nd (G#) and 6th (D), so it is usually written in the key signature of F# minor: 3 sharps: F#, C# and G#.
F# 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.
F# minor pentatonic vs F# minor
| Degree | 1 | 2 | b3 | 4 | 5 | b6 | b7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | F# | G# | A | B | C# | D | E |
| Pentatonic | F# | – | A | B | C# | – | E |
G# and D are the two notes of F# minor that sit a half step from a neighbour. Without them the scale has no half steps at all. Its relative is A major pentatonic, which uses the same five keys starting from A. Add one note and it becomes F# blues.
What F# minor pentatonic is used for
This is the first scale most rock and blues players learn to solo with. It fits over F#m and F#m7, over a minor song in the key of F# minor, and over a blues in F#, where its A rubs against the major 3rd of the F# chord on purpose.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from F# | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| F# | 1 | root | 0 |
| A | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| B | 4 | perfect 4th | 5 |
| C# | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| E | 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
F# minor has 3 sharps: F#, C# and G#. The pentatonic plays F#, A, B, C# and E, so G# and D simply never sound.
Chords using only these notes
Five notes leave room for few chords, so each of these can be played with F# minor pentatonic alone.
| Chord | Notes |
|---|---|
| F#m | F# A C# |
| F#m7 | F# A C# E |
| F#sus4 | F# B C# |
| A | A C# E |
| Asus2 | A B E |
| Amaj6 | A C# E F# |
| Bsus2 | B C# F# |
| Bsus4 | B E F# |
| Esus2 | E F# B |
| Esus4 | E A B |
More scales on F#
Minor Pentatonic scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the F# minor pentatonic scale?
The F# minor pentatonic scale contains F#, A, B, C#, E, then returns to F# an octave higher.
Which notes does F# minor pentatonic leave out of F# minor?
The 2nd, G#, and the 6th, D. What remains is F#, A, B, C#, E.
What is the relative major pentatonic of F# minor pentatonic?
A major pentatonic. It uses the same five keys, with A 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.