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SCALE · ON TRUMPET IN BB

D 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 major 2nd 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 D Pentatonic Minor Verovio
Keyboard
DFGACDFGACDFGACD
Related scales
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
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Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the D Pentatonic Minor scale?

The D Pentatonic Minor scale uses the notes D, F, G, A, C (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 D to get the D Pentatonic Minor scale.

What chords work over D 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 D Pentatonic Minor on Trumpet in Bb?

On brass, scales train embouchure + valve / slide coordination across the partials. Slow practice with a tuner reveals intonation tendencies (e.g., the 5th partial sharp on trumpet).

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.