B Minor pentatonic
A five-note scale with a minor 3rd and minor 7th above the tonic and no semitones; a stable minor sound.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- B Minor pentatonic
- Family
- Pentatonic scales
- Note count
- 5
- Step formula
- W+H – W – W – W+H – W
- Numeric formula
- 0-3-2-2-3-2
Notes & degrees
1Broot
b3Dminor 3rd
4Eperfect 4th
5F#perfect 5th
b7Aminor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- A five-note scale with a minor 3rd and minor 7th above the tonic and no semitones; a stable minor sound.
- Application in music
- Used over a minor tonic; in blues it is also played over dominant chords to supply blues inflections.
- Interval formula
- BWHDWEWF#WHA
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IBpoint of resttonic
VF#supports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIDD
IVEE
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how B Minor pentatonic looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.