C# Flat Three Pentatonic Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
C# Flat Three Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C# Flat Three Pentatonic scale is a relatively rare jazz pentatonic scale. On Guitar, it contains the notes C#, D#, E, G#, A#. It is an effective tool for navigating blues changes, providing a unique way to differentiate between the different chords of a progression with a quirky, minor-key twist. Commonly used in Jazz, Blues, Experimental. Notable players include Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter. Use over m7, m7b5 chords. Effective for differentiating chords within a blues progression.
Notes: C#, D#, E, G#, A#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 5P, 6M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5
Formula: W-H-4-W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: kumoi
How to Play C# Flat Three Pentatonic on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 9 on the 6th (low E) to find your C# 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 C# Flat Three Pentatonic scale contains 4 sharps (C#, D#, G#, A#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the C# Flat Three Pentatonic scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (C#-E, D#-G#) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in C#. Try a C#5 - G#5 - A#5 progression.
Guitar Tips
Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the C# Flat Three Pentatonic scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently.
The C# Flat Three Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (C#, D#, E, G#, A#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for C# Flat Three Pentatonic
The C# Flat Three 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 C# Flat Three Pentatonic Further
- Harmonize the C# Flat Three Pentatonic scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic on Ukulele
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic on Bass
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic on Piano
Explore C# Flat Three Pentatonic in Other Tunings
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- C# Flat Three Pentatonic in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)