Dictionary: C Minor Pentatonic Scale

The C minor pentatonic scale is convenient to use for improvising solos and composing melodies over a C minor chord progression, especially if you are unsure whether to use the Aeolian, Dorian, or Phrygian mode at any given moment.

The C minor pentatonic scale sounds especially bluesy over a C major chord progression.  If you want an even bluesier scale, stay tuned ...

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C Blues Horizontal (Guitar, Intermediate)

Learning this expanded pattern will give you total control over the C blues scale - horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. It is advisable to memorize the entire scale in chunks that are four frets wide. Here are a few things to be aware of:

1. Hollow circles represent the C note.
2. Orange circles represent a simple pattern for the C minor pentatonic scale: C, Eb, F, G, and Bb notes.
3. Gray circles represent the rest of the pentatonic scale, outside of the simple diagonal pattern from yesterday.
4. Blue circles represent the jazzy-sounding blue note of the scale: F#.

C Blues Diagonal (Guitar, Beginner)

This pattern of the C blues scale will make you move in a mostly diagonal motion, relative to the fretboard. Here are a few things to be aware of:

1. Hollow circles represent the C note.
2. Orange circles represent a simple pattern for the C minor pentatonic scale: C, Eb, F, G, and Bb notes.
3. Blue circles represent the jazzy-sounding blue note of the scale: F#.

The blues scale sounds great above several varying chord progressions, from those resembling a major key (C7, F7, G7) to those more minor in nature (Cm, Eb, F) to the relative major (Eb, Bb, Cm, Ab), etc.

C Blues Vertical (Guitar, Beginner)

This pattern of the C blues scale will make you move in a mostly vertical motion, relative to the fretboard. Here are a few things to be aware of:

1. Hollow circles represent the C note.
2. Orange circles represent a simple pattern for the C minor pentatonic scale: C, Eb, F, G, and Bb notes.
3. Blue circles represent the jazzy-sounding blue note of the scale: F#.

The blues scale sounds great above several varying chord progressions, from those resembling a major key (C5, F5, G5) to those more minor in nature (C5, Eb5, F5) to the relative major (Eb, Ab, Bb), etc.