Interactive piano keyboard showing C Minor Pentatonic scale degrees. Click highlighted keys to play.
The C minor pentatonic (C, E♭, F, G, B♭) is a dark, powerful scale used extensively in rock, blues, and pop. Its five notes eliminate the 2nd and 6th degrees that can clash over common progressions, making it virtually foolproof for improvisation. C minor pentatonic riffs appear in everything from classical-inspired rock to modern pop production.
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 C Minor Pentatonic are: Cm, Eb, Fm, Gm, Bbm. These are the chords built naturally from each degree of the scale.
What is the Minor Pentatonic?
The C minor pentatonic (C, E♭, F, G, B♭) is a dark, powerful scale used extensively in rock, blues, and pop. Its five notes eliminate the 2nd and 6th degrees that can clash over common progressions, making it virtually foolproof for improvisation. C minor pentatonic riffs appear in everything from classical-inspired rock to modern pop production.
What notes are in the C Minor Pentatonic?
The C Minor Pentatonic 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 have?
The C Minor Pentatonic 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?
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
C is at the 12 o'clock position. Related keys: G (dominant), F (subdominant), A (relative minor), D (supertonic), Bb (subtonic).