CF Builds

JamLab / Tool 01

Scale Explorer

Find notes that work together on guitar or bass.

Choose a starting note and a sound. Try the highlighted notes, press any note to hear it, and focus on a small part of the neck when you are ready.

Explore A minor pentatonic Practice rhythm
Interactive fretboard

A minor pentatonic on guitar

Formula 1 - flat 3 - 4 - 5 - flat 7
Instrument
Labels

Five useful notes for riffs, fills, and solos.

ACDEG
Practice this scale Train by ear Train arpeggios

A minor pentatonic is ready on guitar.

A minor pentatonic

Notes: A, C, D, E, and G. The common fifth-position shape spans frets 5 through 8. Enable JavaScript to load the interactive fretboard.

Root Scale note Focused position Tap any labeled note to hear it
Scale harmony

Chords in A minor pentatonic

Every note in these triads belongs to the selected scale.

Chord fingering

Am · Open / Cowboy · A shape

Am in its open A-shape position.

Frets run left to right from the nut. High strings appear above low strings, and markers show note names and fretting-hand fingers.
  • String 1, high E: open E, fifth.
  • String 2, B: fret 1, finger 1, C, minor third.
  • String 3, G: fret 2, finger 3, A, root.
  • String 4, D: fret 2, finger 2, E, fifth.
  • String 5, A: open A, root.
  • String 6, low E: muted.
Root 1–4Index to little finger TThumb O / ×Open / muted
Related keys

Find nearby keys (Circle of Fifths)

Choose a key to see its closest neighbors and matching minor key. The note map updates without playing sound.

Enable JavaScript to load the interactive Circle of Fifths.

Selected family

Am key

Minor pentatonic uses five stable notes from this minor-key family.

RelativeC
IV / ivDm
V / vEm
Key signatureNo sharps or flats
Family notes C · D · E · F · G · A · B
Am relationships

The inner ring follows the same fifths motion. Natural minor uses minor iv and v; many songs raise the seventh to make V major.

Clockwise · Em

Changes F to F♯ while keeping six notes and four diatonic chords in common.

Counterclockwise · Dm

Changes B to B♭ while keeping six notes and four diatonic chords in common.

Relationship drill

Find the key on the circle

8-round drill

Identify relative keys, IV, and V directly on the circle.

Practice path

Turn highlighted notes into music.

Start with the home note

Play the specially highlighted note first. Return to it whenever the other notes start to feel lost.

Use a small area

Focus on five frets so you can learn one comfortable shape before moving across the whole neck.

Hear every note

Press the highlighted notes and notice which ones feel settled, bright, tense, or ready to move.