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Scale Studies · v2.3

Pentatonic Box Finder

Visualize all 5 box positions of any minor or major pentatonic scale on the guitar fretboard. Flip on Show Triads to see the chord shapes hidden inside each box — both the i (minor) and ♭III (relative major) triads, all inversions, every playable shape across adjacent strings. Stop running scales. Start playing the changes.

Key (Root)
Scale Quality
Note Spelling
Box Position
Display Mode
Current selection
A minor pentatonic / C major pentatonic
Same notes, different root. Use the i interpretation in a minor key context or the ♭III/relative major interpretation in a major key context.
Box1
Frets5–8
Notes shown12
Fretboard
↺ Lefty View
Am triad — A, C, E
C major triad — C, E, G
Shared notes (in both triads)
Other scale tones
Take this further

Pair this with —

Other Guitar Lick Lab tools that work well alongside the Pentatonic Box Finder:

Browser-Based Guitar Tuner Tune any string in the browser — mic-based, 11 alternate tunings Open → Scale Over Chord Finder Which scales fit which chord — covers more than just pentatonic Open → Arpeggio Finder Drill the chord tones of each triad across the whole neck Open → What Chord Is This? Tap a chord shape, find its name with inversions and alternates Open → Fretboard Note Finder Look up every location of any note on the neck Open →
How It Works

From scale shapes to chord-tone soloing.

01 — Pick a key

Minor or major pentatonic

Choose your root note and select either the minor or major pentatonic. Remember — a minor pentatonic and its relative major pentatonic share the exact same 5 notes. A minor pentatonic = C major pentatonic. The tool shows both interpretations so you can use the same shape in either context.

02 — Browse the boxes

5 connected positions

Each pentatonic scale has 5 box positions that together cover the entire fretboard. Box 1 is the most common — anchored at the root on the low E string. Boxes 2–5 shift up the neck. Adjacent boxes share connecting notes, so you can flow between them.

03 — Show Triads

The chord-tone overlay

Flip on Show Triads and the tool color-codes which notes in the current box belong to which triad. Every minor pentatonic box contains both the i minor triad and the ♭III relative major triad. Knowing where these live within your box is what separates running scales from actually playing the changes.

04 — Triad Shape Gallery

Playable 3-note voicings

Below the fretboard, the gallery shows every playable triad shape inside the current box — three chord tones on three adjacent strings, organized by triad and inversion (root position, 1st inversion, 2nd inversion). Use them as target chord tones during solos, or as compact comping voicings.

Frequently Asked

Pentatonic boxes & triads FAQ

What are the 5 pentatonic boxes?
The 5 pentatonic boxes are 5 connected fingering patterns that together cover the entire pentatonic scale across the neck. Each box spans about 4 frets and overlaps with its neighbors. Together they let you play the pentatonic in any position from open strings up to the highest reaches of the fretboard. Box 1 is the most common position, anchored at the root on the low E string.
Why does this tool show both minor and major pentatonic?
Every minor pentatonic scale shares the exact same notes as its relative major pentatonic. A minor pentatonic and C major pentatonic both contain the notes A, C, D, E, G. The only difference is which note you treat as the root. This tool shows both interpretations side by side, so you can use the same fingering pattern in either a minor or major key context.
What are triads in a pentatonic box?
Every pentatonic box contains two complete triads hidden inside it. For A minor pentatonic, these are the Am triad (A, C, E) and the C major triad (C, E, G). When soloing, knowing where these triad notes live within your box lets you target chord tones over the underlying changes — which is the difference between just running scales and actually playing the changes.
How do triad shapes work in a single position?
A triad shape is three chord tones grouped on three adjacent strings within the box, playable as a small chord. Each triad has three inversions: root position (with the root in the bass), 1st inversion (3rd in the bass), and 2nd inversion (5th in the bass). The shape gallery shows you every playable triad shape within the current box, organized by inversion.
What is the relationship between pentatonic boxes and CAGED?
The 5 pentatonic boxes align with the 5 CAGED chord shapes. Box 1 corresponds to the E-shape barre chord position, box 2 to the D-shape, box 3 to the C-shape, box 4 to the A-shape, and box 5 to the G-shape. This is why pentatonic players can easily find chord-tone shapes within each box — they correspond to familiar chord grips.
Is this tool free?
Yes, completely free. The Pentatonic Box Finder is part of the Guitar Lick Lab toolkit — a free set of guitar tools built by Music With Marky.

More free tools for guitar players.

The Pentatonic Box Finder is part of a growing toolkit at Guitar Lick Lab. Explore them all and see what else might help your playing.

Explore all Guitar Lick Lab tools →