A Minor Six Pentatonic Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in 8-string tuning — fretboard diagram
A Minor Six Pentatonic in 8-string — Notes and Intervals
The A Minor Six Pentatonic scale is a variation of the minor pentatonic that introduces a major sixth, giving it a Dorian flavor. On Guitar, the notes are A, C, D, E, F#. It is more sophisticated and soulful than the standard minor pentatonic and is frequently used in jazz and fusion to outline minor chords with a brighter edge. Commonly used in Jazz, Fusion, Neo-Soul, R&B. Notable players include Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Erykah Badu. Use over m6, m7, mMaj7 chords. Adds a jazz sophistication to minor chord soloing without fully committing to a 7-note scale.
Notes: A, C, D, E, F#
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5
Formula: WH-W-W-W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Tuning: 8-string (F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E)
About 8-string Tuning
The 8-string guitar adds both a low B and a low F# string (F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E), pushing the instrument's range almost into bass guitar territory. This massive tonal range has become the weapon of choice for djent, progressive metal, and experimental composers who need bone-crushing low-end and soaring highs in a single instrument.
With artists like Tosin Abasi, Meshuggah, and After the Burial leading the charge, the 8-string guitar has redefined what's possible in modern heavy music. The low F# string delivers subsonic heaviness that you can feel in your chest, while the upper strings maintain standard guitar voicings for leads and clean passages. Extended-range compositions often exploit the full span of the instrument, creating a wall of sound that covers bass, rhythm, and lead guitar roles simultaneously.
Notable artists: Meshuggah, Animals as Leaders, After the Burial, Intervals, Monuments
Best for: Djent polyrhythms, extended-range metal riffs, experimental compositions, and one-instrument arrangements spanning bass to lead
Musical Character
By replacing the b7 of the minor pentatonic with a natural 6th, this scale gains a Dorian flavor — brighter and more sophisticated than standard minor pentatonic.
Chord Progressions Using This Scale
- vi – viM7 – vi7 – II (Descending Minor Cliché)Classical / Pop — Romance & Intrigue
- iv – ♭VII – I (Backdoor Cadence)Jazz / Soul — Soulful & Unexpected
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Standard Tuning
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Drop D
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in DADGAD
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Open G
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Baritone (B Standard)
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in 7-string
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Drop C
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Drop B
- A Minor Six Pentatonic in Open D