G Minor Pentatonic Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Open A tuning — fretboard diagram
G Minor Pentatonic in Open A — Notes and Intervals
The G Minor Pentatonic scale is the most influential scale in the history of rock and guitar music. On Guitar, its notes are G, Bb, C, D, F. It offers a gritty, powerful, and bluesy sound that is highly versatile, serving as the primary tool for improvising solos in rock, blues, and metal and providing a safe but expressive framework for beginners and pros alike. Commonly used in Blues, Rock, Metal, R&B, Funk. Notable players include Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, B.B. King, Slash, Angus Young. Use over minor chords, dominant 7th chords (in blues), and power chords. The backbone of rock and blues guitar for 70+ years.
Notes: G, Bb, C, D, F
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4P, 5P, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 b5
Formula: WH-W-W-WH-W
Number of notes: 5
Tuning: Open A (E-A-E-A-C#-E)
Also known as: vietnamese 2
About Open A Tuning
Open A tuning (E-A-E-A-C#-E) produces an A major chord when strummed open. It is structurally identical to Open G tuned up one whole step, delivering a brighter, more tense sound that works particularly well for slide guitar centered on the key of A.
Jimmy Page used Open A with a slide on Led Zeppelin's 'In My Time of Dying' from Physical Graffiti (1975). Rory Gallagher also employed Open A for his raw, energetic slide work. Many players achieve Open A by simply placing a capo at the 2nd fret in Open G tuning, which is why dedicated Open A usage is less commonly discussed. However, without a capo, Open A gives direct access to the open A string resonance and a different feel under the fingers due to the higher tension.
Notable artists: Jimmy Page, Rory Gallagher, Delta blues players
Best for: Slide guitar in the key of A, blues playing, and situations where you need the brightness of Open G tuned up without a capo
Musical Character
The most played scale in guitar history. Its 5 notes (1, b3, 4, 5, b7) outline a minor chord with a dominant 7th feel, which is why it works over both minor AND dominant chords in blues.
Chord Progressions Using This Scale
- bVI – bVII – I (Mario Cadence)World / Game Music — Triumph & Victory
- I – I – I – I – IV – IV – I – I – V – IV – I – V (12 Bar Blues)Blues — Grit & Soul
- i – iv – i – V (Minor Blues)Blues — Melancholy
- I – bVI – bIII – bVII (Epic Borrowed Chords)Contemporary / Film — Epic & Heroic
- i – VI – III – VII (Cinematic Minor)Contemporary / Film — Dramatic & Dark
Explore This Scale in Other Tunings
- G Minor Pentatonic in Standard Tuning
- G Minor Pentatonic in Drop D
- G Minor Pentatonic in DADGAD
- G Minor Pentatonic in Open G
- G Minor Pentatonic in Baritone (B Standard)
- G Minor Pentatonic in 7-string
- G Minor Pentatonic in 8-string
- G Minor Pentatonic in Drop C
- G Minor Pentatonic in Drop B
- G Minor Pentatonic in Open D
- G Minor Pentatonic in Half Step Down
- G Minor Pentatonic in Open E
- G Minor Pentatonic in Double Drop D
- G Minor Pentatonic in Open C