C# Natural Minor vs C# Minor Pentatonic
C# natural minor and minor pentatonic drawn on one neck. They differ by 2 notes.
Tap any note on the neck.
Swipe the neck sideways to see the higher frets.
C# natural minor is C# minor pentatonic with the 2 and b6 added — D# and A.
C# natural minor vs C# minor pentatonic: what is different
C# minor pentatonic is C# natural minor with 2 notes left out. Every note of minor pentatonic is also in natural minor; natural minor adds:
- D#, the 2
- A, the b6
Shared by both: C# E F# G# B.
When to use which
The bigger scale has more colour and more ways to go wrong; the smaller one is safer and plainer. Start solos in the smaller scale and add the extra notes as a passing tone, on the way to a note that belongs to the chord. Live on the extra note and it stops sounding like colour and starts sounding like a mistake.
Hear the difference
Free, no account needed. Change the key and both scales follow.
Find out what you should learn next. Five questions and Guitar Theory Studio builds you a four-week plan through the fretboard, chords, scales, arpeggios and ear training — week one free.
Build my free plan →