Minor Pentatonic vs Natural Minor (Aeolian) on Piano
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)).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
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)