Understanding and Using Pentatonics Creatively: Lesson 4

Minor Pentatonic Scale
The Minor Pentatonic is a 5-note scale that is widely popular and used in Pop, Rock, Blues,
Reggae, Jazz and Funk Music. One famous song that immediately comes to mind is the main
riff in Bob Marley’s song, “I Shot The Sheriff”, which is basically the descending Minor
Pentatonic scale.

An easy way to visualize the notes found within the Minor Pentatonic Scale is by looking at
all of the black keys on a piano. Here is a Minor Pentatonic starting on the Eb. By playing the
Black Keys in order, from the Eb, you will hear the sound of the Eb Minor Pentatonic Scale.

The shape of the scale will change depending on the note you start on; however, the Interval
relationship will remain the same for any Minor Pentatonic Scale you build.

Eb Minor Pentatonic

The numbers on the keys represent the order and sequence of the notes.

On a stringed instrument the pattern for the Minor Pentatonic remains the same whatever
key you’re playing in. This makes the pattern a lot easier to navigate through when jamming;
however, I do think it’s good to know the mechanics behind any scale and without always
relying on the shape. To get started you can just learn the shape on the bass and play around
with it.

Knowing and memorizing the shapes of scales and patterns on your bass is a very useful
thing to know, but by hearing the sound internally you’ll get you a lot further in the long run
when playing grooves and improvising.
  

Here is the fingering pattern on the Bass Guitar for the G Minor Pentatonic. The numbers
inside the dots represent the fingering pattern.

The shape for the G Minor Pentatonic starts on the 3rd fret of the E String, which is G (the root
of the chord). The next note is a Bb, which is on the 6th fret of the E String. Next is a C, which
is on the 3rd fret of the A String. Then there is a D, which is on the 5th fret of the A String. Next
is an F, which is on the 3rd fret of the D String, and finally we’re back to the Root G, which is
on the 5th fret of the D String.

Here is the G Minor Pentatonic Scale written out in notation. Even if you can’t read music
visually, it’s good to see the shape of the notes. More will be discussed on reading music and
the benefits of reading as we progress further into the Tony Grey Bass Academy.

Here is the G Minor Pentatonic Scale, ascending and descending, written over one Octave
from the Root. Underneath the notation is the name of the note and underneath that is the
Scale Degree.
  

Next try playing all the notes available from the G Minor Pentatonic Scale, moving
horizontally up the neck from the Root, over all 4 Strings. By playing in this position from the
E String, across the 4 string bass, you can get the whole scale plus an extra Root, 3rd and 4th
degree.

Continuing the scale, moving horizontally up the neck, the shape will look like this. The
numbers inside the dots represent the fingering pattern.

Here is the G Minor Pentatonic Scale, ascending and descending, covering the whole
position, and written from the Root.

You can play this pattern starting from any note you want. The scale will always be the same,
and only the key will change. For example, if you started this pattern on the 5th fret of the E
string, you’d be playing the A Minor Pentatonic Scale.
  

Like we did for the Major Pentatonic, learning the Minor Pentatonic from the Root, and from
each degree is a great idea, especially if you want more options while you’re playing.
Learning this scale starting from every degree on the E String gives you a lot more range to
play with.

Here is the fingering pattern on the Bass Guitar for the G Minor Pentatonic starting on the
♭ 3rd degree, which is on the 6th fret. The numbers inside the dots represent the fingering
pattern.

The shape for the G Minor Pentatonic scale, moving horizontally up the neck from the ♭ 3rd
degree, will look like this.

Here is the G Minor Pentatonic Scale, covering the whole position, written from the ♭ 3rd
degree.
  

Here is the fingering pattern on the Bass Guitar for the G Minor Pentatonic, starting on the
4th degree, which is on the 8th fret. The numbers inside the dots represent the fingering
pattern.

The shape for the G Minor Pentatonic scale, moving horizontally up the neck from the 4th
degree, will look like this.

Here is the G Minor Pentatonic Scale, covering the whole position, written from the 4th
degree.

Here is the fingering pattern on the Bass Guitar for the G Minor Pentatonic, starting on the
5th degree, which is on the 10th fret. The numbers inside the dots represent the fingering
pattern.

The shape for the G Minor Pentatonic scale, moving horizontally up the neck from the 5th
degree, will look like this.
  

Here is the G Minor Pentatonic Scale, covering the whole position, written from the 5th
degree.

Here is the fingering pattern on the Bass Guitar for the G Minor Pentatonic, starting on the
♭ 7th degree, which is on the 13th fret. The numbers inside the dots represent the fingering
pattern.

The shape for the G Minor Pentatonic scale, moving horizontally up the neck from the ♭ 7th
degree, will look like this.
  

Here is the G Minor Pentatonic Scale, covering the whole position, written from the ♭ 7th
degree.