Gb 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
Gb 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

1Gbroot
b3Aminor 3rd
4Cbperfect 4th
5Dbperfect 5th
b7Fbminor 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
Gb
WH
A
W
Cb
W
Db
WH
Fb

Tensions & resolutions

Stable degrees

IGbpoint of resttonic
VDbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth

Typical resolutions & tensions

IIIAA
IVCbCb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.

This scale on guitar 🎸

See how Gb Minor pentatonic looks on guitar.

Explore

Circle of fifths

The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.

CAmGEmDBmAF#mEC#mBG#mF#D#mDbBbmAbFmEbCmBbGmFDmF#major
Relative key
Dominant
Subdominant
Key signature
6 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#)

Connections

Practice

Keyboard Trainer

Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.

Open Trainer

Frequently Asked Questions