Minor Pentatonic vs Natural Minor (Aeolian)
The C minor pentatonic and the C natural minor (aeolian) share 5 notes — C, Eb, F, G, Bb. From there, the C natural minor (aeolian) adds D, Ab.
Piano, C3 to C5. Notes in this scale, low to high: C3 (root of C Minor Pentatonic and root of C Natural Minor (Aeolian)), D3 (2), Eb3 (flat 3 of C Minor Pentatonic and flat 3 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian)), F3 (4 of C Minor Pentatonic and 4 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian)), G3 (5 of C Minor Pentatonic and 5 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian)), Ab3 (flat 6), Bb3 (flat 7 of C Minor Pentatonic and flat 7 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian)), C4 (root of C Minor Pentatonic and root of C Natural Minor (Aeolian)), D4 (2), Eb4 (flat 3 of C Minor Pentatonic and flat 3 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian)), F4 (4 of C Minor Pentatonic and 4 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian)), G4 (5 of C Minor Pentatonic and 5 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian)), Ab4 (flat 6), Bb4 (flat 7 of C Minor Pentatonic and flat 7 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian)), C5 (root of C Minor Pentatonic and root of C Natural Minor (Aeolian)).
Both scales above are drawn on one piano keyboard in the key of C. Notes belonging to both are drawn as a split two-color dot, so the notes they share and the notes unique to each are visible in one picture.
How the formulas differ
Scale degrees are the key-independent way to compare two scales — these stay the same in every key, and they are what actually distinguishes one scale from another.
| Scale | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Minor Pentatonic | R · b3 · 4 · 5 · b7 |
| Natural Minor (Aeolian) | R · 2 · b3 · 4 · 5 · b6 · b7 |
Notes in common
| Note | In Minor Pentatonic | In Natural Minor (Aeolian) |
|---|---|---|
| C | R | R |
| Eb | b3 | b3 |
| F | 4 | 4 |
| G | 5 | 5 |
| Bb | b7 | b7 |
Notes that differ
- Only in the natural minor (aeolian): D (2), Ab (b6)