F♯ Minor Pentatonic Scale

Notes in the F♯ Minor Pentatonic Scale

Degree Name Note Frequency (A=440)
1 Tonic F♯ 369.994 Hz
♭3 Minor Mediant A 440.000 Hz
4 Subdominant B 493.883 Hz
5 Dominant C♯ 277.183 Hz
♭7 Subtonic E 329.628 Hz

Interval Pattern

Formula: W+H-W-W-W+H-W
Step Interval Semitones From Note To Note
1 Aug 2nd (WH) 3 F♯ A
2 Whole Step (W) 2 A B
3 Whole Step (W) 2 B C♯
4 Aug 2nd (WH) 3 C♯ E
5 Whole Step (W) 2 E F♯

Chords Built on Scale Degrees

Degree Note Chord Quality
1 F♯ F♯ (complex) other
♭3 A A (complex) other
4 B B (complex) other
5 C♯ C♯ (complex) other
♭7 E E (complex) other

Key Signature

6 — The F♯ key signature uses F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯.

F♯ Minor Pentatonic Scale in Practice

The F♯ Minor Pentatonic Scale uses the key signature of 6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯). F# major has six sharps and is enharmonically equivalent to Gb major. It is used when a sharp key is preferred over the flat alternative in notation. On guitar, F♯ positions offer open-string resonance for fingering positions for this scale.

The minor pentatonic scale is the most commonly used scale in blues and rock music. It contains five notes with a raw, expressive sound ideal for improvisation. When played starting on F♯, the 5 notes are F♯, A, B, C♯, E. In this key the signature has 6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯). F# major uses all five black keys plus E# and B#, making it one of the most enharmonically complex keys on keyboard instruments. In modern pop and electronic music, F# appears frequently because digital instruments have no ergonomic preference, and producers choose it for its distinctive brightness.

Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments

Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.

Note Equal Temp. Pythagorean Just Intonation
F♯ 369.994 Hz 371.251 Hz 367.911 Hz
A 440.000 Hz 440.000 Hz 436.043 Hz
B 493.883 Hz 495.000 Hz 490.548 Hz
C♯ 277.183 Hz 278.437 Hz 279.067 Hz
E 329.628 Hz 330.001 Hz 327.032 Hz

Related Scales

Guitar: F♯ Minor Pentatonic Scale Positions

The F♯ key offers 6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like F♯ are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.