C Minor Hexatonic Guitar Scale

Guitar scale — fretboard diagramIntermediate

C minor hexatonic scale — 6-string guitar fretboard diagramInteractive fretboard diagram showing the C minor hexatonic scale on 6-string guitar with 22 frets. Notes: F, G, B, C, D, Eb.FGBCDEbFGBCDBCDEbFGBCDEbFGGBCDEbFGBCDEbFDEbFGBCDEbFGBCBCDEbFGBCDEbFGFGBCDEbFGBCD1357911121315171921

What chords fit over C Minor Hexatonic?

Open C Minor Hexatonic Harmonizer

C Minor Hexatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals

The C Minor Hexatonic scale is a six-note scale that bridges the gap between the minor pentatonic and full modal scales. On Guitar, it contains the notes C, D, Eb, F, G, B. It has a soulful, minor character but offers more melodic flexibility, making it a common choice for blues and jazz-rock soloing. Commonly used in Blues, Jazz-Rock, R&B, Soul. Notable players include B.B. King, Albert King, John Mayer. Use over m7 chords and blues changes. More flexible than minor pentatonic but less complex than full Dorian.

Notes: C, D, Eb, F, G, B

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 7M

Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 6

Formula: W-H-W-W-4-H

Number of notes: 6

Musical Character

SoulfulExpressiveBluesyWarm

Bridges the gap between the 5-note minor pentatonic and full 7-note modes — adds one note that provides extra melodic flexibility while maintaining the blues feel.

Genres & Notable Artists

Genres: Blues, Jazz-Rock, R&B, Soul

Notable players: B.B. King, Albert King, John Mayer

How to Use the C Minor Hexatonic Scale

Use over m7 chords and blues changes. More flexible than minor pentatonic but less complex than full Dorian.

Origin & Background

A practical blues scale that adds melodic depth to the minor pentatonic without the full complexity of 7-note scales.

How to Play C Minor Hexatonic on Guitar

Place your index finger at fret 8 on the 6th (low E) to find your C root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is open position.

The C Minor Hexatonic scale contains 1 flat (Eb). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.

Practice Routine

Practice the C Minor Hexatonic scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 80 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 6 notes of the scale.

Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on C to let the characteristic intervals of the Minor Hexatonic scale come through clearly. This scale is especially effective in soul contexts.

Guitar Tips

On guitar, try playing the C Minor Hexatonic scale using legato technique (hammer-ons and pull-offs) to develop a smooth, connected sound. This is particularly effective for longer scale runs. Aim for a soulful quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.

Related Scales

The C Minor Hexatonic scale contains 6 notes (C, D, Eb, F, G, B). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.

CAGED Positions & Patterns for C Minor Hexatonic

The C Minor Hexatonic 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 6-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 C Minor Hexatonic Further

Explore C Minor Hexatonic in Other Tunings

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