The Minor Pentatonic Scale

Lesson 4/54 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Beginner Blues Harmonica

The Minor Pentatonic Scale

There are two different types of pentatonic scale, the major pentatonic and the minor pentatonic which is shown here. As well as the flattened 7th degree, the minor pentatonic also contains a flattened 3rd degree. The scale degrees of the minor pentatonic scale are 1, b3, 4, 5 and b7.

Because of the way the harmonica is tuned, it is only possible to play the cross harp minor pentatonic scale on the low end of the harmonica. The scale is shown in the following example starting on hole 2 and finishing on hole 6, along with part of the scale on the very low notes down as far as the 4th degree (C).

Here is a riff you learned in lesson 9 which is derived from the minor pentatonic scale. As you can hear, this scale is great for creating Blues sounds. It is also the most common scale used in Rock.

Here is another lick which is derived from the minor pentatonic scale. Try making up some of your own licks from this scale.

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1- 12 Bar Blues, Basic Techniques, Rhythms and Sounds 2- Playing In Other Keys 3- Improvisation 4- The Twelve Eight Time Signature (<span class="symbolA">+</span>) 5- Third Position 6- Sixteenth Notes 7- Analyzing Cross Harp Sounds 8- Notes On The C Harmonica 9- Scales, 16th Note Rhythms, 3rd Position Playing, and Improvisation 10- Grace Notes 11- Bending Notes 12- Sliding Between Notes 13- The Triplet 14- New Rhythms, Expressive Techniques, Note Bending 15- Hand Vibrato 16- INTRODUCTION 17- Playing Chords 18- The Eighth Note 19- 12 Bar Blues 20- Cross Harp Playing 21- More About 12 Bar Blues 22- Double Tonguing 23- Cleaning The Harmonica 24- The Turnaround 25- Which Harmonica To Use 26- The Six Eight Time Signature (<span class="symbolA">)</span>) 27- The Dorian Scale 28- Reading The Notation System 29- The Major Pentatonic Scale 30- Complete Range Of The Harmonica 31- Chord Numbers 32- The Trill 33- More Notes To Bend 34- The Lead-In 35- The Trail-Off 36- Riffs 37- Swing Rhythms 38- Throat Vibrato 39- Understanding Chords 40- The Tie 41- The Train Whistle 42- How To Hold The Harmonica 43- The Blues Scale In Third Position 44- The Shuffle 45- The Minor Pentatonic Scale 46- Root Notes 47- Tone Development 48- The Blues Scale 49- Melody And Harmony 50- Different Types Of Chords 51- Chords I, IV And V In All Keys 52- Learning The Keys 53- Approach To Practice 54- More Titles by LearnToPlayMusic.com

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The Minor Pentatonic Scale