What are pentatonic boxes?

Pentatonic boxes are self-contained, two-notes-per-string fingering patterns for the pentatonic scale. There are 5 positions that together cover the entire guitar neck. Each box has the same shape in every key — only the starting fret changes.

What is the difference between minor and major pentatonic?

The minor pentatonic uses intervals 1, b3, 4, 5, b7 and has a darker, bluesy sound. The major pentatonic uses intervals 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and sounds brighter and more resolved.

What is the blue note in pentatonic?

The blue note is the b5 (flat fifth), also called the tritone. It is used as a chromatic passing tone in blues and rock — slide through it rather than landing on it.

How do I connect the 5 pentatonic boxes?

Adjacent boxes share one or two notes called pivot frets. Practice running up through one box until you hit the shared note, then continue in the next box's pattern.

Pentatonic Box — Interactive Guitar Scale Tool

Welcome to Pentatonic Box

An interactive guitar fretboard tool for learning and visualizing pentatonic scale positions in any key.

Pick your root note — the key you want to play in. Toggle ♭/♯ to switch between flats and sharps.

Select a scale — Minor or Major Pentatonic.

Toggle boxes — each color is a different position on the neck. Start with Box 1.

Use the checkboxes on the left to isolate specific strings — great for seeing patterns on just the top 3 strings.

Dot labels let you see note names or interval numbers inside each dot.

Root note

♭ / ♯ Toggle
Switches between flat (Bb, Eb) and sharp (A#, D#) notation. Same pitches, different names. Use flats for keys like F and Bb, sharps for G and D. Tap the root buttons to pick your key.

Root notes

Pentatonic

Blue note PRO

Full scale PRO

Boxes

Dot labels

Metronome

120

BPM

20300

Tempo adjust

Reset

String selector
Click the checkboxes to isolate strings. Try unchecking the low E, A, and D to focus on the top three — this is how most lead guitar patterns are practiced.

Box transitions

Concentric (ring-in-ring) dots mark pivot frets shared between adjacent boxes. These are your shift points — stay on that note and change hand position.

Blue note

The b5 (flat fifth / tritone) sits outside the pentatonic scale — use it as a chromatic passing tone. Slide through it, don't land on it.

Major vs minor

Same 5 box shapes — different root position. Major pent: 1 2 3 5 6. Minor pent: 1 b3 4 5 b7. Relative major is 3 frets up the neck.