Why are the notes and the scale formula of Am Pentatonic scale different? They don’t seem to match.
Hi.
Could you give me more detail? Do you mean in one of my books or this website? I can’t see any problems – unless I’m looking in the wrong places?
Thanks.
As you’ve described in the site Am Pentatonic Scale contains the notes ACDEG. However, the minor Pentatonic Scale formula says that the notes should have the 1st degree which is A, then a flat 3rd. But the 2nd note is C and not a flat third. Why is this? Unless I’m reading it all wrong.
Everything is with reference to the major scale. All “A” scales will be referenced to A major; All “B” scales to B major, etc. So whatever the root note is, that’s the major scale we create our formulas from, whether it’s natural minor, pentatonics, blues scales or whatever – all formulas use associated major scale notes as the reference.
In the case of A minor pentatonic we will use the A major scale notes to apply our scale formula.
A Major scale notes are:
1: A
2: B
3: C#
4: D
5: E
6: F#
7: G#
Now look at those notes and compare to the A minor pentatonic. The scale formula is 1 b3 4 5 b7. If we flatten the 3rd and 7th in A major we get this…
1: A
2: B
3: C (flattened)
4: D
5: E
6: F#
7: G (flattened)
The minor pentatonic does not use the 2nd or 6th scale degree so we end up with this.
1: A
3: C (flattened)
4: D
5: E
7: G (flattened)
Does that makes sense?
Thanks a ton Mr. Lee. I didn’t realize that I’ve to take the ‘A Major’ as a reference for the A minor pentatonic. I somehow thought that I had to go back to the ‘C major’ as ‘A natural minor’ is derived from that which in hindsight looks stupid now that you’ve explained it. Thanks a million. Now it’s all crystal clear.
Not stupid at all Calvin. It’s a complicated subject.
Thank you very much. Your explanation was detailed and patient. Moreover, it was very clear. Thank you again for throwing light on a complicated subject.
