Guitar Fretboard Reference
Guitar Scales
Explore any scale on the fretboard, learn what each degree does, and drill it until you can see it anywhere on the neck.
Essentials
Modes
Minor Variants
Extras
Positions
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Position 1 of 5 · starts on 1
A Minor Pentatonic
Five notes, one shape, and most of the guitar solos you have ever loved. The first scale nearly every player learns.
| Degree | 1 | b3 | 4 | 5 | b7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | A | C | D | E | G |
- Step formula
- W+H W W W+H W
- Notes
- 5 per octave
- Plays over
- Am Am7 A7 A5
When to reach for it
Blues, rock, and lead playing of every kind. The single highest-value scale on the instrument.
Heard in
- Back in Black — AC/DC
- Purple Haze — Jimi Hendrix
Whole neck
Frets 5–8 highlighted
Root
3rd
5th
7th
Other scale tone