fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON CLARINET IN A

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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Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds a minor 3rd below the written notation — the instrument's concert (sounding) pitch.

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

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title A Pentatonic Minor Verovio
Keyboard
ACDEGACDEGACDEGA
Related scales
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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 Clarinet in A?

On woodwinds, scales train fingering coordination + breath support + register changes. Pay particular attention to the break (the register-key transition); slow practice with a tuner reveals intonation issues across the break.

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.