Scale type
Minor Pentatonic Scales on Piano
The minor pentatonic scale is the backbone of blues, rock, and popular music improvisation. Built from five notes of the natural minor scale (removing the 2nd and 6th degrees), it produces a dark, soulful sound with no harsh dissonances. It is the first scale most guitarists learn to solo with, and equally powerful on piano.
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Featured key
C Minor Pentatonic Scale
Notes: C - E♭ - F - G - B♭
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Open the full C Minor Pentatonic Scale reference ›Formula: WH–W–W–WH–W (whole+half–whole–whole–whole+half–whole)
Intervals: P1–m3–P4–P5–m7–P8
Scale degrees: 1–♭3–4–5–♭7
Sound: Bluesy, soulful, dark, gritty
Also known as: The blues scale without the blue note (♭5)
From minor pentatonic to blues: Add the ♭5 (the "blue note") between the 4th and 5th degrees and you get the six-note blues scale. The minor pentatonic is the skeleton; the blue note is the soul.
Minor Pentatonic Scale in All 18 Keys
All 18 spellings, ♯ and ♭ keys listed separately.
Select any key to see the full scale with notes, fingering, audio, and practice tips.
C Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: C – E♭ – F – G – B♭C♯ Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: C♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – BD♭ Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: D♭ – F♭ – G♭ – A♭ – C♭D Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: D – F – G – A – CD♯ Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: D♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – C♯E♭ Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: E♭ – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – D♭E Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: E – G – A – B – DF Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: F – A♭ – B♭ – C – E♭F♯ Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: F♯ – A – B – C♯ – EG♭ Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: G♭ – B♭♭ – C♭ – D♭ – F♭G Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: G – B♭ – C – D – FG♯ Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: G♯ – B – C♯ – D♯ – F♯A♭ Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: A♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – G♭A Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: A – C – D – E – GA♯ Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: A♯ – C♯ – D♯ – E♯ – G♯B♭ Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: B♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F – A♭B Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: B – D – E – F♯ – AC♭ Minor Pentatonic ScaleNotes: C♭ – E♭♭ – F♭ – G♭ – B♭♭
Want the full theory? Intervals, construction, and how this scale connects to others.Pentatonic & Blues Scales ›