E♭ Minor Pentatonic Scale (Eb, D#)
The Eb minor pentatonic scale contains Eb – Gb – Ab – Bb – Db. It is Eb minor without its 2nd (F) and 6th (Cb), so it is usually written in the key signature of Eb minor: 6 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb. On the piano, Eb minor pentatonic uses only black keys. It uses the same piano keys as D# minor pentatonic, spelled D# – F# – G# – A# – C#.
Eb 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.
Eb minor pentatonic vs Eb minor
| Degree | 1 | 2 | b3 | 4 | 5 | b6 | b7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | Eb | F | Gb | Ab | Bb | Cb | Db |
| Pentatonic | Eb | – | Gb | Ab | Bb | – | Db |
F and Cb are the two notes of Eb minor that sit a half step from a neighbour. Without them the scale has no half steps at all. Its relative is Gb major pentatonic (the same keys as F# major pentatonic), which uses the same five keys starting from Gb. Add one note and it becomes Eb blues.
What Eb minor pentatonic is used for
This is the first scale most rock and blues players learn to solo with. It fits over Ebm and Ebm7, over a minor song in the key of Eb minor, and over a blues in Eb, where its Gb rubs against the major 3rd of the Eb chord on purpose.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from Eb | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eb | 1 | root | 0 |
| Gb | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| Ab | 4 | perfect 4th | 5 |
| Bb | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| Db | 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
Eb minor has 6 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb. The pentatonic plays Eb, Gb, Ab, Bb and Db, so F and Cb simply never sound.
Chords using only these notes
Five notes leave room for few chords, so each of these can be played with Eb minor pentatonic alone.
| Chord | Notes |
|---|---|
| Ebm | Eb Gb Bb |
| Ebm7 | Eb Gb Bb Db |
| Ebsus4 | Eb Ab Bb |
| Gb | Gb Bb Db |
| Gbsus2 | Gb Ab Db |
| Gbmaj6 | Gb Bb Db Eb |
| Absus2 | Ab Bb Eb |
| Absus4 | Ab Db Eb |
| Dbsus2 | Db Eb Ab |
| Dbsus4 | Db Gb Ab |
More scales on Eb
Minor Pentatonic scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Eb minor pentatonic scale?
The Eb minor pentatonic scale contains Eb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Db, then returns to Eb an octave higher.
Which notes does Eb minor pentatonic leave out of Eb minor?
The 2nd, F, and the 6th, Cb. What remains is Eb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Db.
What is the relative major pentatonic of Eb minor pentatonic?
Gb major pentatonic. It uses the same five keys, with Gb 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.