explained for players
Let’s dive deeper into Intervals and figure out what the scales are. Scales are a selection of notes, out of the chromatic scale (12 notes). They are constructed using steps.
The Minor Pentatonic scale is one of the most widely used scales in music, particularly in rock, blues, and jazz. It has a simple yet powerful sound that is both versatile and expressive. This scale is characterized by its five-note structure, which makes it easy to learn and play.
Musicians use the Minor Pentatonic scale to create solos and riffs that are both memorable and impactful. It's particularly effective in conveying a sense of raw emotion and intensity, making it a favorite among guitarists and other instrumentalists. This scale is often used in improvisation, allowing musicians to create spontaneous and dynamic performances.
Harmonically, the Minor Pentatonic scale allows for the creation of chords and progressions that have a distinctive and powerful sound. These progressions are often used in rock and blues music to create a sense of movement and tension. Whether you're jamming in a rock band or playing a blues solo, the Minor Pentatonic scale is an essential tool for any musician.
The relative steps of the minor pentatonic scale are: wh-w-w-wh-w (w=whole step, h=half step, w=whole and half step).
Let’s explore how that exactly works:
minor pentatonic scale in chromatic intervals
To explain the the minor pentatonic scale best, take a look at the piano. Especially to the highlighted notes. Those are the notes in the minor pentatonic scale.
Notice the numbers of the highlighted notes.
Schematically they look like this:
minor pentatonic scale in diatonic intervals
If we would re-number the highlighted notes (instead of using the absolute numbers of the chromatic scale) we create a new interval (scale) that looks like this.
Notice again the numbers of the highlighted notes.
Schematically they look like this:
What does diatonic mean?
The term "diatonic" refers to a scale that uses a mix of whole steps and half steps. When we say "diatonic," we mean notes that belong to the scale. For example, if you're playing in the key of C♯ major and using C♯ major notes, those notes are diatonic.
In the piano example above, you saw that only the notes from the scale are used. This means they only include notes "of the scale." Knowing about diatonic notes is important for understanding music theory and making melodies that sound good.
Using diatonic notes helps musicians keep their music in key, making it sound smooth and pleasant. Understanding diatonic notes will improve your musical skills and creativity.
Musical Step names
The steps (also known as conjunct motion) of a diatonic scale are known by these names:- 1st – Tonic (key note)
- 2nd – Supertonic
- 3rd – Mediant
- 4th – Subdominant
- 5th – Dominant
- 6th – Submediant
- 7th – Leading tone
- 8th – Tonic (Octave)
Scale degree
The scale degree tells how the scale is transformed.
The diatonic intervals 2â™5â™ are flat, hence the â™ sign. Flat means to go down a half step. On piano that's one key down, on a guitar that's one fret down.
If you scroll back to the piano above, you’ll notice the black keys correspond to this.
The on the in key of
Back to the guitar! You might wonder how this all translates back to your instrument and that might be a bit confusing at first, but please stay tuned. As you just seen, the chromatic intervals for minor pentatonic scale are {1, 4, 6, 8 and 11}. To most people, this is not very useful information. The diatonic steps 1, â™3, 4, 5, â™7 are more important to know. Try to learn see the difference between those and learn that by heart. From there it is way more interesting and practical to look at diatonic scale intervals.
Switch between chromatic/diatonic/notes below to see/learn the relations between them. For convenience, the root note (C♯) is highlighted.
The following table contains overview of the most used scales and its intervals.
| Scale name | Interval | Degree | Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major scale | 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | w-w-h-w-w-w-h |
| Minor scale | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 | 1, 2, â™3, 4, 5, â™6, â™7 | w-h-w-w-h-w-w |
| Melodic minor scale | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 | 1, 2, â™3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | w-h-w-w-w-w-h |
| Harmonic minor scale | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12 | 1, 2, â™3, 4, 5, â™6, 7 | w-h-w-w-h-wh-h |
| Minor blues scale | 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11 | 1, â™3, 4, â™5, 5, â™7 | wh-w-h-h-wh-w |
| Major blues scale | 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11 | 1, 2, â™3, 3, 5, 6 | wh-w-h-h-wh-w |
| Minor pentatonic scale | 1, 4, 6, 8, 11 | 1, â™3, 4, 5, â™7 | wh-w-w-wh-w |
| Major pentatonic scale | 1, 3, 5, 8, 10 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 | w-w-wh-w-wh |
| Overview of more scales | |||
- Musical Scale Degree
- â™=half step down, ♯=half step up, ♯♯=whole step up
- Musical Steps
- w=whole step, h=half step, wh=whole and half step
As you might notice, the scales have 7 notes, except for the blues and pentatonic scales.