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Minor Pentatonic Scale: Theory & Ear Training

The Minor Pentatonic Scale has five notes and a minor quality–widely used in Blues tonalities in blues (of course), folk, pop, and rock….

C Minor Pentatonic Scale Theory

Here, for example, are the notes in the C Minor Pentatonic Scale identified by letter name, scale degree, and Solfege syllable…

piano keyboard showing c minor pentatonic scale solfege and scale degrees
  1. The scale structure of the Minor Pentatonic Scale is 1-b3-4-5-b7-1. Always. No matter what key you are in.
  2. The Solfege syllables of the Minor Pentatonic Scale are Do-Me-Fa-So-Te-Do. Always. No matter what key you are in.
  3. The only thing that changes when you change keys are the letter names.

Comparative Scale Study

Notice that the Minor Pentatonic Scale is just the Minor Blues Scale with the edgiest note #4/b5 (Fi/Se) missing…


Solfege Ear Training

Reading, playing, and singing the Solfege Syllables out loud is an extremely effective way to tune up your ears and to internalize the unique sound-feeling of each note in the scale with respect to the key center Do. Make sure to do this slowly enough for the unique sound-feeling of each Solfege Syllable to make a meaningful impression on your mind’s ear.

C Minor Pentatonic Scale: Linear, Ascending…

piano-ology-blues-school-c-minor-pentatonic-scale-solfege-ear-training-linear-ascending

C Minor Pentatonic Scale: Linear, Descending…

piano-ology-blues-school-c-minor-pentatonic-scale-solfege-ear-training-linear-descending

C Minor Pentatonic Scale: Do-X-Do, Ascending…

piano-ology-blues-school-c-minor-pentatonic-scale-solfege-ear-training-do-x-do-ascending

C Minor Pentatonic Scale: Do-X-Do, Descending…

piano-ology-blues-school-c-minor-pentatonic-scale-solfege-ear-training-do-x-do-descending

Note: While it’s possible to continue by singing many other musical patterns, the 80-20 Principle teaches us that a more efficient approach is to get your ear training material directly from the music that YOU want to play!


learn more… Minor Blues Scale: Theory & Ear Training

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