Minor Pentatonic
- Consists of the same 5 notes of a major pentatonic scale but its
tonic (first note of the scale} is 3 semitones below the tonic of the
major pentatonic scale.
The word "pentatonic" comes from the Greek word pente meaning five and tonic
meaning tone. Simply put the pentatonic scale consists of five notes
within one octave, that's why it is also sometimes referred to as a
five-tone scale or five-note scale. It is believed that the pentatonic
scale was used way back in ancient times. Composers like Claude Debussy
have used pentatonic scales for added effect in his music.
The anhemitonic form of pentatonic scale has no semitones (ex. c–d–f–g–a–c} this is the most commonly used form.
A Minor Pentatonic (first caged position)
e |--X--|-----|-----|--X--|
B |--X--|-----|-----|--X--|
G |--X--|-----|--X--|--X--|
D |--X--|-----|--X--|-----|
A |--X--|--X--|--X--|-----|
E |--X--|-----|-----|--X--|
|
5th Fret
