fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON TENOR

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 title A Pentatonic Minor
Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 2 3 title A Pentatonic Minor
Verovio
Tempo120 bpm

Audio source: FluidR3_GM SoundFont (public domain)

Keyboard
ACDEGA
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 Tenor?

Singing scales (solfège) trains pitch accuracy + interval recognition. Use moveable Do (Do = tonic) so any scale starts on Do. The major scale solfège (Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Ti-Do) is the universal pattern.

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.