Minor pentatonic modes are the five scales you get by starting A minor pentatonic on each of its notes in turn.
The 5 Modes at a Glance
All five modes below use the same notes as A minor pentatonic. Only the starting note, and so the interval formula, changes. The alternative names are the ones you will also see in many theory references.
| Box | Root | Notes | Formula | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | A C D E G | 1 b3 4 5 b7 | Minor pentatonic |
| 2 | C | C D E G A | 1 2 3 5 6 | Major pentatonic |
| 3 | D | D E G A C | 1 2 4 5 b7 | Suspended or Egyptian pentatonic |
| 4 | E | E G A C D | 1 b3 4 b6 b7 | Blues minor or Man Gong |
| 5 | G | G A C D E | 1 2 4 5 6 | Blues major, Ritsusen or Yo |
For background on the scale family, see Wikipedia on the pentatonic scale.
Just like every other scale, minor pentatonic scale also has modes or different voicing of playing those 5 notes. Since pentatonic scale has 5 notes, the scale has 5 different modes or 5 different voicing. Pentatonic scale itself can be of many different types, but we will consider the most popular of all, the minor pentatonic, and let’s look at this in the key of Am. The notes for Am pentatonic are A, C, D, E, G. This often is called BOX 1 of the key, as you may have studied that in different music schools or during guitar lessons. The 5 different ways these notes can be played are:
1. A , C, D, E, G (Minor pentatonic or aeolian pentatonic, box 1)
2. C, D, E, G, A (Major pentatonic or ionian pentatonic, box 2)
3. D, E, G, A, C (Dorian pentatonic or suspended pentatonic, box 3)
4. E, G, A, C, D (Phrygian pentatonic or Man Gong, box 4)
5. G, A, C, D, E (Lydian pentatonic or Ritusen, box 5)
Most of you have practiced these 5 boxes during the early years of learning scales, so now you know each box is actually a mode and they got specific names. Remember them as writing chord progression for each mode becomes a lot easier. For example if you want to write something in suspended pentatonic, the name will suggest you that you can create many suspended chords using the scale tones and the melody created on top of that using the notes of that mode will resemble the laid back sound of dorian mode. This way you can choose the mood or emotion you want to create and use the mode accordingly.
Fret Charts for Each Box (A Minor Pentatonic Notes)
Each line lists the two frets you play on that string, from the low E string up to the high e string. The first note on the low E string is the root of that mode.
Box 1 (A minor) E: 5 8 A: 5 7 D: 5 7 G: 5 7 B: 5 8 e: 5 8 Box 2 (C major) E: 8 10 A: 7 10 D: 7 10 G: 7 9 B: 8 10 e: 8 10 Box 3 (D suspended) E: 10 12 A: 10 12 D: 10 12 G: 9 12 B: 10 13 e: 10 12 Box 4 (E blues minor) E: 12 15 A: 12 15 D: 12 14 G: 12 14 B: 13 15 e: 12 15 Box 5 (G blues major) E: 15 17 A: 15 17 D: 14 17 G: 14 17 B: 15 17 e: 15 17
How to Hear Each Mode
A box only sounds like a new mode when the harmony underneath points to its root. Play box 3 over a D drone or a Dsus chord and the suspended sound appears; play box 5 over a G drone and you hear the bright blues major colour. This is the same idea as the 7 modes of the major scale.
Minor Pentatonic Modes: FAQ
How many minor pentatonic modes are there?
Five, one starting on each note of the scale, which is why there are five familiar boxes.
Are the minor pentatonic modes the same as the five boxes?
The notes are the same, but a box is a fingering shape. It becomes a mode when you treat its lowest note as home.
To connect the minor pentatonic modes across the neck, study the CAGED system, the difference between major and minor scales and the Mixolydian mode.
New to scales on guitar? Our online beginner course walks you through the basics.
