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C minor pentatonic Scale on Piano

C E♭ F G B♭ W+H W W W+H W 5 notes

Notes and steps

The notes of the C minor pentatonic scale

Formula in degrees: 1 b3 4 5 b7.

C minor pentatonic scale: C E♭ F G B♭, steps W+H W W W+H WCFGCE♭B♭W+HWWW+HW
C E♭ F G B♭ - the arcs give each step: W a whole step (two half steps), H a half step.
Fingering

How to finger it

With 5 notes per octave, play it in groups: thumb on the lowest white key of each group, then cross over. Slow and even beats fast and uneven: play it with the metronome at 60 before speeding up.

Harmony

Chords that fit the C minor pentatonic scale

Every chord built on a note of the scale whose notes all belong to it - the chords to accompany a melody in it.

Same tonic

Other scales on C

Learn and practise

Questions

Frequently asked

What notes are in the C minor pentatonic scale?

Going up: C, E♭, F, G, B♭, then C again.

What is the formula of the minor pentatonic scale?

In whole (W) and half (H) steps: W+H W W W+H W. In degrees: 1 b3 4 5 b7.

Which chords go with the C minor pentatonic scale?

Chords whose notes all belong to it: Cm, Cm7, Csus4, E♭, E♭sus2, Fsus2, Fsus4, B♭sus2, B♭sus4.

Play it for real

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