6 String Freedom

Part 9: Pentatonics become musical choices · Lesson 079 / 117

Minor pentatonic: simplify natural minor

Today’s one thing

Derive A–C–D–E–G and keep A as the reference.

A minor pentatonic comes from A natural minor by leaving out B and F. Its notes are A, C, D, E and G. Relative to the parallel-major interval reference, the formula is 1–b3–4–5–b7.

These are the same pitch classes as C major pentatonic, but A is our tonic here. Accompaniment and phrase endings establish the different centre. The same collection can serve different musical organisations.

For our first minor-pentatonic work, use clearly minor-key backing such as Am–Dm–Am–Em. We postpone minor pentatonic over major blues harmony until the blues section, where the expressive major/minor mixture can be explained properly.

Play the five notes in a small region and name them. The familiar box will come next. Understanding the collection first prevents the diagram from becoming the entire definition.

Hear it

Minor Pent

Audio file

Four-beat count-in · 60 BPM · Warm sampled electric guitar. Listen once before playing along.

A concrete example

A natural minor A B C D E F G becomes A minor pentatonic A C D E G. Removed degrees: 2 and b6.

A minor pentatonic5678e · 1ACB · 2EGG · 3CDD · 4GAA · 5DEE · 6AC
Frets are labelled above; high E is the top string. Brass dots mark the tonic. Tap a dot to hear it.

Fretboard view

High E (string 1) is the top line, matching guitar tablature. Select a note to hear it.

Root / tonicChord toneTargetChanged / colour noteOther note
A minor pentatonic: one familiar box
The familiar fifth-position box uses A, C, D, E and G.
Guitar fretboard diagram: A minor pentatonic: one familiar box. High E string on top, frets 5 to 8. Notes A, C, D, E, G, A, C, D, E, G, A, C.
Find and name the notes before learning another position.
Play notes from a larger button list

One small map at a time. Hear the notes, then play the example without looking.

Try it, slowly

  1. Cross B and F out of A natural minor.
  2. Play A C D E G and return to A.
  3. Compare a C-centred and A-centred backing while keeping the same collection available.

Check one idea

Is A minor pentatonic simply five arbitrary notes that happen to fit one guitar box?

Show the explanation

No. It is the interval collection 1–b3–4–5–b7 above A, playable in many positions. The box is one map of those relationships.

A good place to stop

You can derive and name the collection and state its tonic.

Return to the example after a short break. A clear explanation matters more than speed.