Chords in C Minor Pentatonic Scale

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The minor pentatonic is the single most important scale in rock and blues history. Nearly every iconic guitar riff — from "Smoke on the Water" to "Sunshine of Your Love" — uses these five notes. The diatonic chords from its parent natural minor scale power the 12-bar blues and countless rock anthems.

Transpose to any key, progressions & circle of fifths

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Formula

W+H-W-W-W+H-W

Semitones: 3-2-2-3-2

Key Signature

EbBb

2 flats

Explore

Minor Pentatonic Scale in the glossary Key Explorer tool Browse all C chords Chord Flashcards Ear Training Metronome

Characteristic Sound

The minor pentatonic strips natural minor down to five notes, concentrating the minor 3rd and minor 7th — the two intervals that define rock and blues guitar. Nearly every iconic guitar riff uses these five notes.

Key intervals:♭3♭7

Mode Family

Pentatonic & Blues

Simplified 5- and 6-note scales essential for rock, blues, and improvisation.

Major Pentatonic Scale
Minor Pentatonic Scale
Blues Scale

Notes:

CEbFGBb

Scales with similar note sets — useful for exploring substitutions and modal interchange.

Added blue noteBlues Scale Parent scaleNatural Minor Scale (Aeolian)SupersetDorian Mode SupersetPhrygian Mode 2 notes differentHarmonic Minor Scale

Chromatic Mediant Relationships

Chords a third away from the root — not diatonic to this scale. Common in film scoring and jazz.

M3 ↑

EE Em

m3 ↓

AA Am

M3 ↓

AbAb Abm

Minor Pentatonic Scale scale FAQ

What chords are in C Minor Pentatonic Scale?

The diatonic chords in C Minor Pentatonic Scale are: Cm, Eb, Fm, Gm, Bbm. These are the chords built naturally from each degree of the scale.

What is the Minor Pentatonic Scale?

The minor pentatonic is a five-note scale that omits the 2nd and 6th degrees of the natural minor scale. It is the single most important scale for rock, blues, and pop guitar playing — nearly every famous guitar riff uses it.

What notes are in the C Minor Pentatonic Scale?

The C Minor Pentatonic Scale contains the notes: C, Eb, F, G, Bb. This is a 5-note scale starting from C.

How many chords does the C Minor Pentatonic Scale have?

The C Minor Pentatonic Scale produces 5 diatonic chords, one built on each degree of the scale: Cm, Eb, Fm, Gm, Bbm.

What is the formula for the Minor Pentatonic Scale?

The Minor Pentatonic Scale follows the interval formula: W+H-W-W-W+H-W (W = whole step, H = half step).