Interactive piano keyboard showing A Minor Pentatonic scale degrees. Click highlighted keys to play.
The A minor pentatonic (A, C, D, E, G) is the simplest minor pentatonic on piano — all white keys — and a universal starting point for rock, pop, and blues soloing. Its five notes create natural, melodic lines that avoid the dissonance of the full minor scale. The relative major pentatonic (C major pentatonic) shares all the same notes.
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.
The diatonic chords in A Minor Pentatonic are: Am, C, Dm, Em, Gm. These are the chords built naturally from each degree of the scale.
What is the Minor Pentatonic?
The A minor pentatonic (A, C, D, E, G) is the simplest minor pentatonic on piano — all white keys — and a universal starting point for rock, pop, and blues soloing. Its five notes create natural, melodic lines that avoid the dissonance of the full minor scale. The relative major pentatonic (C major pentatonic) shares all the same notes.
What notes are in the A Minor Pentatonic?
The A Minor Pentatonic contains the notes: A, C, D, E, G. This is a 5-note scale starting from A.
How many chords does the A Minor Pentatonic have?
The A Minor Pentatonic produces 5 diatonic chords, one built on each degree of the scale: Am, C, Dm, Em, Gm.
What is the formula for the Minor Pentatonic?
The Minor Pentatonic follows the interval formula: W+H-W-W-W+H-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
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Position in circle of fifths
A is at the 3 o'clock position. Related keys: E (dominant), D (subdominant), F# (relative minor), B (supertonic), G (subtonic).