A Minor Six Pentatonic Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
A Minor Six Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Minor Six Pentatonic scale is a variation of the minor pentatonic that introduces a major sixth, giving it a Dorian flavor. On Guitar, the notes are A, C, D, E, F#. It is more sophisticated and soulful than the standard minor pentatonic and is frequently used in jazz and fusion to outline minor chords with a brighter edge. Commonly used in Jazz, Fusion, Neo-Soul, R&B. Notable players include Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Erykah Badu. Use over m6, m7, mMaj7 chords. Adds a jazz sophistication to minor chord soloing without fully committing to a 7-note scale.
Notes: A, C, D, E, F#
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5
Formula: WH-W-W-W-WH
Number of notes: 5
How to Play A Minor Six Pentatonic on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 5 on the 6th (low E) to find your A root note. With only 5 notes, this scale fits comfortably in a two-notes-per-string pattern across all six strings. Focus on learning a single box shape first before connecting positions.
The A Minor Six Pentatonic scale contains 1 sharp (F#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the A Minor Six Pentatonic scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in A. Try a A5 - E5 - F#5 progression.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the A Minor Six Pentatonic scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications.
The A Minor Six Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (A, C, D, E, F#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Minor Six Pentatonic
The A Minor Six Pentatonic scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 5-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore A Minor Six Pentatonic Further
- Harmonize the A Minor Six Pentatonic scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- A Minor Six Pentatonic on Ukulele
- A Minor Six Pentatonic on Bass
- A Minor Six Pentatonic on Piano
Explore A Minor Six Pentatonic in Other Tunings
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)