C Minor Pentatonic Chord Structure

You notice that the notes on the guitar fretboard are colour co-ordinated. For me this is the best way that I have found to learn how to get to grips with the multiple duplicate notes.

For instance how many C notes can be found across the entire guitar fretboard?

This scale is used in Blues & Rock. C Minor Pentatonic Scale is a 5 note Scale & it can be used over the chord progressions found in:

C Aeolian Mode
C Dorian Mode
C Phrygian Mode

This is because the 5 notes found in the C Minor Pentatonic Scale (C Eb F G Bb C) can be found in all three Modes listed above.

Having 5 notes makes it very easy to make great sounding lead riffs & solos.

Therefore this Scale does not use a 2nd or a 6th note. So let’s look at the template used to form a C Minor Pentatonic Scale.

The concept of the Minor Pentatonic Scale is that it is built using only the notes that remain constant across all three Minor Modes.

For instance, look below at the notes in each of the three Minor Modes & you will notice that 5 of the 7 notes feature in all three Modes;

C Eb F G Bb

C 	D	Eb	F	G	Ab	Bb

C	D	Eb	F	G	A	Bb

C 	Db	Eb	F	G	Ab	Bb

Therefore as the Db note is only used in C Phrygian Mode & the Ab note is used only in C Aeolian Mode & C Phrygian Modes, those notes can’t feature in the generic Minor Pentatonic Mode.

Therefore, this means that the Minor Pentatonic Scale is stripped to its’ shell & can therefore be used to solo over any of the 3 Minor Mode Chord Progressions! So here are the notes for the C Minor Pentatonic Scale: C Eb F G Bb C

Now here are the chords that can be used when using the C minor pentatonic scale.

Cm	D dim	Eb	Fm	Gm	Ab	Bb
Cm7	Dm7b5	EbM7	Fm7	Gm7	AbM7	Bb7

Cm	Dm	Eb	F	Gm	A dim	Bb
Cm7	Dm7	EbM7	F7	Gm7	Am7b5	BbM7

Cm	Db	Eb	Fm	G dim	Ab	Bbm
Cm7	DbM7	Eb7	Fm7	Gm7b5	AbM7	Bbm7

So if you play a chord that is unique to the C Aeolian Mode such as;

D dim, Dm7b5, Bb7

Then you can use the C Aeolian Mode or the C Minor Pentatonic Scale. Unique chords for the C Dorian Mode are:

Dm, Dm7, F, F7, A dim, Am7b5, BbM7

Then you can use the C Dorian Mode or the C Minor Pentatonic.

Unique chords for the C Phrygian Mode are:

Db, DbM7, Eb7, G dim, Gm7b5, Bbm, Bbm7

Then you can use the C Phrygian Mode or the C Minor Pentatonic.

Once you have learnt this guitar scale click on the lead guitar backing track link to practise.

Free lead guitar backing tracks!

So how about now thinking of ways that the C Minor Pentatonic Scale & the C Aeolian Mode can be used?

Using the C Minor Pentatonic Scale or the C Aeolian Mode

If possible record the chord progressions displayed below or have someone play them & you practice soloing over them using C Minor Pentatonic or C Aeolian Mode (or try to mix your solos between them).

Chord Progressions associated with the C Aeolian Mode Ab Bb (Repeated play C Pedal Tone) – This mood is often used to stir the emotions to tears.

Cm Fm Gm
Cm Eb Fm Gm
Cm Bb Ab

All of the above patterns could produce a feel or sound of sadness & lament .

Use Aeolian Mode in Pop, Blues, Rock, Heavy Metal, Country & Fusion. Using the C Minor Pentatonic Scale or the C Dorian Mode

If possible record the chord progressions displayed below or have someone play them & you practice soloing over them using C Minor Pentatonic or C Dorian Mode (or try to mix your solos between them).

Chord Progressions associated with the C Dorian Mode:

Cm Dm
Cm F7
Cm Bb F7
Eb F7 (Repeated played with a C Pedal Tone)
This mood will create a bluesy sound.

Note: All of the above patterns are unique to the Dorian Mode Use Dorian Mode in Jazz, Fusion, Rock & Blues

Using the C Minor Pentatonic Scale or the C Phrygian Mode

If possible record the chord progressions displayed below or have someone play them & you practice soloing over them using C Minor Pentatonic or C Phrygian Mode (or try to mix your solos between them).

Chord Progressions associated with the C Mixolydian Mode Eb Db (Repeated play C Pedal Tone) – This mood will create tension, suspense:

Cm Db Eb Cm (Spanish Feel)

Cm Db

Note: All of the above patterns are unique to the Phrygian Mode

Use Phrygian Mode in Flamenco, Fusion, & Speed Metal C Minor Pentatonic Scale

C Minor Pentatonic Scale: C Eb F G Bb C. Solo over the following Chords.

Cm	D dim	Eb	Fm	Gm	Ab	Bb
Cm7	Dm7b5	EbM7	Fm7	Gm7	AbM7	Bb7

Cm	Dm	Eb	F	Gm	A dim	Bb
Cm7	Dm7	EbM7	F7	Gm7	Am7b5	BbM7

Cm	Db	Eb	Fm	G dim	Ab	Bbm
Cm7	DbM7	Eb7	Fm7	Gm7b5	AbM7	Bbm7

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chromatic scale from guitar lessons for beginners

ionian mode from guitar lessons for beginners

dorian mode from guitar lessons for beginners

phrygian mode from guitar lessons for beginners

lydian mode from guitar lessons for beginners

mixolydian mode from guitar lessons for beginners

aeolian mode from guitar lessons for beginners

locrian mode from guitar lessons for beginners

harmonic minor scale from guitar lessons for beginners

melodic minor scale from guitar lessons for beginners

major pentatonic scale from guitar lessons for beginners

minor pentatonic scale from guitar lessons for beginners

blues scale from guitar lessons for beginners

modal studies from guirtar lessons for beginners

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