C Minor Pentatonic Scale
The C minor pentatonic scale contains C – Eb – F – G – Bb. It is C minor without its 2nd (D) and 6th (Ab), so it is usually written in the key signature of C minor: 3 flats: Bb, Eb and Ab.
C minor pentatonic scale chart
Pentatonic and blues scales have no standard book fingering, so none is shown here. Pick fingers that keep your thumb off the black keys.
C minor pentatonic vs C minor
| Degree | 1 | 2 | b3 | 4 | 5 | b6 | b7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | C | D | Eb | F | G | Ab | Bb |
| Pentatonic | C | – | Eb | F | G | – | Bb |
D and Ab are the two notes of C minor that sit a half step from a neighbour. Without them the scale has no half steps at all. Its relative is Eb major pentatonic, which uses the same five keys starting from Eb. Add one note and it becomes C blues.
What C minor pentatonic is used for
This is the first scale most rock and blues players learn to solo with. It fits over Cm and Cm7, over a minor song in the key of C minor, and over a blues in C, where its Eb rubs against the major 3rd of the C chord on purpose.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from C | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | root | 0 |
| Eb | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| F | 4 | perfect 4th | 5 |
| G | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| Bb | b7 | minor 7th | 10 |
Step pattern
The minor pentatonic scale is built from the pattern W+H – W – W – W+H – W (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = three semitones). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same scale in a different key.
Key signature
C minor has 3 flats: Bb, Eb and Ab. The pentatonic plays C, Eb, F, G and Bb, so D and Ab simply never sound.
Chords using only these notes
Five notes leave room for few chords, so each of these can be played with C minor pentatonic alone.
| Chord | Notes |
|---|---|
| Cm | C Eb G |
| Cm7 | C Eb G Bb |
| Csus4 | C F G |
| Eb | Eb G Bb |
| Ebsus2 | Eb F Bb |
| Ebmaj6 | Eb G Bb C |
| Fsus2 | F G C |
| Fsus4 | F Bb C |
| Bbsus2 | Bb C F |
| Bbsus4 | Bb Eb F |
More scales on C
Minor Pentatonic scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C minor pentatonic scale?
The C minor pentatonic scale contains C, Eb, F, G, Bb, then returns to C an octave higher.
Which notes does C minor pentatonic leave out of C minor?
The 2nd, D, and the 6th, Ab. What remains is C, Eb, F, G, Bb.
What is the relative major pentatonic of C minor pentatonic?
Eb major pentatonic. It uses the same five keys, with Eb as its tonic.
What is the step pattern of the minor pentatonic scale?
It follows the pattern W+H – W – W – W+H – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones), H is a half step (one semitone) and W+H is three semitones.