Guitar Scales
108 scalesPentatonic boxes3 notes per stringTab
The scales guitarists learn first
The guitar above shows the A minor pentatonic in its five boxes: pick one and press Play. Below, the eight scales that cover most solos, each in the position that starts on its root.
All 108 guitar scales, by root
Twelve roots, nine scales, with the fret where the root position starts. Every page shows all the positions with diagrams, note names or intervals, tab and fingering, the whole neck and the chords that fit.
| Root | major | natural minor | harmonic minor | melodic minor | major pentatonic | minor pentatonic | blues | Dorian | Mixolydian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Cfret 8 | Cfret 8 | Cfret 8 | Cfret 8 | Cfret 7 | Cfret 8 | Cfret 8 | Cfret 8 | Cfret 8 |
| C♯/D♭ | D♭fret 9 | C♯fret 9 | C♯fret 9 | C♯fret 9 | D♭fret 8 | C♯fret 9 | C♯fret 9 | C♯fret 9 | C♯fret 9 |
| D | Dfret 10 | Dfret 10 | Dfret 10 | Dfret 10 | Dfret 9 | Dfret 10 | Dfret 10 | Dfret 10 | Dfret 10 |
| D♯/E♭ | E♭fret 11 | D♯fret 11 | D♯fret 11 | D♯fret 11 | E♭fret 10 | D♯fret 11 | D♯fret 11 | E♭fret 11 | E♭fret 11 |
| E | Efret 0 | Efret 0 | Efret 0 | Efret 0 | Efret 11 | Efret 0 | Efret 0 | Efret 0 | Efret 0 |
| F | Ffret 1 | Ffret 1 | Ffret 1 | Ffret 1 | Ffret 0 | Ffret 1 | Ffret 1 | Ffret 1 | Ffret 1 |
| F♯/G♭ | F♯fret 2 | F♯fret 2 | F♯fret 2 | F♯fret 2 | F♯fret 1 | F♯fret 2 | F♯fret 2 | F♯fret 2 | F♯fret 2 |
| G | Gfret 3 | Gfret 3 | Gfret 3 | Gfret 3 | Gfret 2 | Gfret 3 | Gfret 3 | Gfret 3 | Gfret 3 |
| G♯/A♭ | A♭fret 4 | G♯fret 4 | G♯fret 4 | G♯fret 4 | A♭fret 3 | G♯fret 4 | G♯fret 4 | G♯fret 4 | A♭fret 4 |
| A | Afret 5 | Afret 5 | Afret 5 | Afret 5 | Afret 4 | Afret 5 | Afret 5 | Afret 5 | Afret 5 |
| A♯/B♭ | B♭fret 6 | B♭fret 6 | B♭fret 6 | B♭fret 6 | B♭fret 5 | B♭fret 6 | B♭fret 6 | B♭fret 6 | B♭fret 6 |
| B | Bfret 7 | Bfret 7 | Bfret 7 | Bfret 7 | Bfret 6 | Bfret 7 | Bfret 7 | Bfret 7 | Bfret 7 |
Boxes, positions and the whole neck
Pentatonic boxes. Five notes, two per string: the minor and major pentatonic split into five boxes that link up the neck. Box 1 of the minor pentatonic starts on the root, under the index finger, on the low E string.
Three notes per string. Seven-note scales - major, minor, modes - are shown in seven positions with three notes on every string. Each one starts on a different note of the scale, and they are all the same scale.
Open position. When enough open strings belong to the scale, the page adds the position near the nut, the easiest one for beginners.
Play, learn, and the same scales on piano
Frequently asked
Which guitar scale should I learn first?
The minor pentatonic, in Box 1. In A it sits at frets 5 to 8 with two notes per string, and it is the scale behind most rock and blues solos. Then learn the major scale, which every other scale is compared to.
What are scale positions and boxes?
A scale covers the whole neck, but your hand covers four or five frets at a time. A position, or box, is the part of the scale under the hand in one place. Pentatonic scales split into five boxes of two notes per string; seven-note scales into seven positions of three notes per string.
How do I change key with a scale shape?
Move it. Every position on this site is movable: slide Box 1 of A minor pentatonic up two frets and it becomes B minor pentatonic. The root on the low E string tells you which key you are in.
What is the difference between the minor pentatonic and the blues scale?
One note: the blues scale adds the flat five between the 4th and the 5th. Use it as a passing note, sliding through it.
From a scale to a solo
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