fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON BASSOON

A𝄪 Pentatonic Minor

Five notes — 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7. The starting vocabulary of blues, rock, jazz solos. Works over almost any chord.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
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Meter:Octave per barCrotchets in 4/4Quavers in 4/4Triplets in 4/4
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 4 title A𝄪 Pentatonic Minor Verovio
Tempo120 bpm

Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)

FingeringFollows the scale as it plays — written pitch, matches the staff
A𝄪DDCCAAC♯C♯wwB♭B♭BBCCDDE♭E♭E♭E♭C♯C♯B♭B♭EEF♯F♯A♭A♭FFA♭A♭
Related scales
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
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Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the A𝄪 Pentatonic Minor scale?

The A𝄪 Pentatonic Minor scale uses the notes A𝄪, C𝄪, D𝄪, E𝄪, G𝄪 (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What's the Pentatonic Minor scale formula?

The Pentatonic Minor scale follows the interval pattern W+H W W W+H W, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on A𝄪 to get the A𝄪 Pentatonic Minor scale.

What chords work over A𝄪 Pentatonic Minor?

Minor pentatonic works over minor triads, m7, the I / IV / V of minor blues, and many dominant-7 vamps. The starting blues-rock vocabulary.

How do I finger A𝄪 Pentatonic Minor on Bassoon?

On double reeds, scales train reed control + register changes + the half-hole / full-hole register transition. Slow practice exposes pitch instability the player can correct with embouchure.

When would I use the Pentatonic Minor scale?

Five notes — 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7. The starting vocabulary of blues, rock, jazz solos. Works over almost any chord.