A Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale
Listen plays the scale. Play Along lights up each note in order so you can follow.
A – C – D – E – F♯ – A
Formula:m3-W-W-W-m3
Intervals:P1-m3-P4-P5-M6
Introduction
The A Minor 6 Pentatonic scale contains five notes: A, C, D, E, and F♯. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern m3-W-W-W-m3.
A Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale Notes
| Degree | Name | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | A | P1 |
| 2 | Supertonic | C | m3 |
| 3 | Mediant | D | P4 |
| 4 | Subdominant | E | P5 |
| 5 | Dominant | F♯ | M6 |
| 6 | Submediant | A | — |
Key Signature
The key of A Minor 6 Pentatonic has no sharps or flats. Every note is natural, which makes it the easiest key signature to read on the staff.
Chords in the Key of A Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the A Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
i — A Minor (minor)
A Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the A Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale?
The A Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale contains five notes: A – C – D – E – F#. The notes table above shows each note with its scale degree and interval from the root.
How many sharps or flats does A Minor 6 Pentatonic have?
The key of A Minor 6 Pentatonic has no sharps or flats. Every note is natural — this is the simplest key signature on the staff.
What is the relative major of A Minor 6 Pentatonic?
The relative major of A Minor 6 Pentatonic is C Major. Both scales share the same key signature and the same seven notes — the difference is which note feels like "home." Switching between a minor key and its relative major is one of the most common ways composers shift mood without changing the underlying notes.
What chords are in the key of A Minor 6 Pentatonic?
The seven diatonic chords in the key of A Minor 6 Pentatonic are: i – A Minor, ii° – B Diminished, III – C Major, iv – D Minor, v – E Minor, VI – F Major, VII – G Major. A classic progression in A Minor 6 Pentatonic is i – VI – iv – v (A Minor → F Major → D Minor → E Minor).
What is the parallel major of A Minor 6 Pentatonic?
The parallel major of A Minor 6 Pentatonic is A Major. "Parallel" means same root note, opposite mode — the two scales differ by three notes (the third, sixth, and seventh are lowered in minor). Borrowing chords from the parallel key is a popular way to add color to a progression.
What does the A Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale sound like?
The A Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale has the foundation of rock, blues, and pop guitar solos — minor without the unstable second and sixth. With only five notes, the pentatonic scale avoids the most dissonant intervals — every note in the scale sounds good against every other, which makes it ideal for soloing.
Related Tools
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