C Major Pentatonic Scale
The C major pentatonic scale — C D E G A — with its intervals, the chords it makes and every position on the guitar neck.
Tap any note on the neck.
Swipe the neck sideways to see the higher frets.
C major pentatonic is C major without the 4 or 7 — no F, no B.
C major pentatonic scale notes and intervals
C major pentatonic has 5 notes. Each is named by its distance from the root, which is the same in every key — learn the numbers once and every major pentatonic scale reads the same.
Step pattern from the root: W – W – W+H – W – W+H (W is a whole step, two frets; H is a half step, one fret; W+H is three frets).
Scales it shares notes with:
- A minor pentatonic — relative minor pentatonic — the same five notes
- C major — the full major scale it comes from
C major pentatonic scale positions on guitar — all 5
C major pentatonic is played in five box shapes that tile the neck between frets 0 and 13. Each box shares frets with the next, so you change shape without stopping. Position 3 sits lowest.
Position 1 — frets 7–10
Starts on the 1 (C) on the 6th string. Practice this position → · Box 1 on its own page
Position 2 — frets 9–13
Starts on the 2 (D) on the 6th string. Practice this position → · Box 2 on its own page
Position 3 — frets 0–3
Starts on the 3 (E) on the 6th string. Practice this position → · Box 3 on its own page
Position 4 — frets 2–5
Starts on the 5 (G) on the 6th string. Practice this position → · Box 4 on its own page
Position 5 — frets 5–8
Starts on the 6 (A) on the 6th string. Practice this position → · Box 5 on its own page
Each box on its own page, with how it joins its neighbours →
Chords to play C major pentatonic over
C major pentatonic is the major scale with the 4 and the 7 left out — the notes most likely to clash — so it works across the chords of C major. It is not an equally good fit on every one of them: over each chord, aim for that chord’s own notes and let the rest pass.
How to practice the C major pentatonic scale
- Start with position 3 at frets 0–3, slowly, until every note lands on the click. The loop keeps the shape and the tempo for you.
- Add five beats a minute each time it feels easy. When straight runs get dull, play the same position in thirds — the pattern that turns a scale into lines.
- See every C major pentatonic note across the whole neck on the Fretboard, and find each box again an octave up.
Find out what you should learn next. Five questions and Guitar Theory Studio builds you a four-week plan through the fretboard, chords, scales, arpeggios and ear training — week one free.
Build my free plan →