A Minor Six Pentatonic Banjo (5-String) Scale
Banjo (5-String) scale — fretboard diagramIntermediate
A Minor Six Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Minor Six Pentatonic scale is a variation of the minor pentatonic that introduces a major sixth, giving it a Dorian flavor. On Banjo (5-String), the notes are A, C, D, E, F#. It is more sophisticated and soulful than the standard minor pentatonic and is frequently used in jazz and fusion to outline minor chords with a brighter edge. Commonly used in Jazz, Fusion, Neo-Soul, R&B. Notable players include Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Erykah Badu. Use over m6, m7, mMaj7 chords. Adds a jazz sophistication to minor chord soloing without fully committing to a 7-note scale.
Notes: A, C, D, E, F#
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5
Formula: WH-W-W-W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Musical Character
By replacing the b7 of the minor pentatonic with a natural 6th, this scale gains a Dorian flavor — brighter and more sophisticated than standard minor pentatonic.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Jazz, Fusion, Neo-Soul, R&B
Notable players: Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Erykah Badu
How to Use the A Minor Six Pentatonic Scale
Use over m6, m7, mMaj7 chords. Adds a jazz sophistication to minor chord soloing without fully committing to a 7-note scale.
Origin & Background
A jazz pentatonic derived from the Dorian mode, emphasizing the characteristic natural 6th.
How to Play A Minor Six Pentatonic on Banjo (5-String)
Begin by locating A on your instrument and play through the 5 notes of the Minor Six Pentatonic scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The A Minor Six Pentatonic scale contains 1 sharp (F#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the A Minor Six Pentatonic scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in A. Try a A5 - E5 - F#5 progression. This scale is especially effective in fusion contexts.
Banjo (5-String) Tips
Practice the A Minor Six Pentatonic scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 5 notes before building speed. Aim for a soulful quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Minor Six Pentatonic is the Dorian-flavored pentatonic subset. View A Dorian scale
Chord Progressions Using This Scale
- vi – viM7 – vi7 – II (Descending Minor Cliché)Classical / Pop — Romance & Intrigue
- iv – ♭VII – I (Backdoor Cadence)Jazz / Soul — Soulful & Unexpected
The A Minor Six Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (A, C, D, E, F#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Banjo (5-String) with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Minor Six Pentatonic
The A Minor Six Pentatonic scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 5-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore A Minor Six Pentatonic Further
- Browse chord progressions
- A Minor Six Pentatonic on Guitar
- A Minor Six Pentatonic on Ukulele
- A Minor Six Pentatonic on Bass
- A Minor Six Pentatonic on Piano