F Major Pentatonic Scale (F G A C D)
F major pentatonic is F G A C D, the low root at the first fret. It shares every note with D minor pentatonic. Soul horn keys use it for the major-key answers.
Fretboard diagram
Every F major pentatonic note from the open strings to fret 22. At fret 12 the map starts over an octave up.
Notes in this scale
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | F |
| 2 | major second | G |
| 3 | major third | A |
| 5 | perfect fifth | C |
| 6 | major sixth | D |
Where to land
A lead that never touches its root is an exercise. In the first twelve frets F sits on the low E string at fret 1, the A string at fret 8, the D string at fret 3, the G string at fret 10, the B string at fret 6, and the high E string at fret 1. End phrases on one of them until it's automatic, then start aiming for whichever chord tone the band is sitting on instead.
Over an F major chord, F, A, and C are chord tones and land clean anywhere in the bar. The D sits close enough to the fifth to resolve down into it, which is the classic country move.
Keep exploring
Same root
Same notes
D minor pentatonic is these five notes with D as home. Same frets, different landing spots.
Chords it fits over
F, Fmaj7, and F7 when the song is country or major-key blues.
Nearby keys
F major pentatonic FAQ
What notes are in the F major pentatonic scale?
F major pentatonic contains F, G, A, C, and D. That's the root, the major second, the major third, the perfect fifth, and the major sixth.
What fret does F major pentatonic start on?
The lowest root is F at fret 1 on the low E string, and most players anchor there. The scale itself covers the whole neck, and everything repeats twelve frets higher.
What is the difference between F major and F minor pentatonic?
F major pentatonic is F G A C D. F minor pentatonic is F A♭ B♭ C E♭. They share only the root and the fifth, and major-key country and minor-key blues split along exactly that line.