C Flat Six Pentatonic Mandolin Scale
Mandolin scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
C Flat Six Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C Flat Six Pentatonic scale is a modern synthetic pentatonic used to imply the sound of the melodic minor system. On Mandolin, its notes are C, D, E, G, Ab. It provides a poignant and slightly altered texture to major melodies, making it a favorite for contemporary jazz players looking for fresh melodic paths. Commonly used in Contemporary Jazz, Fusion, Post-Bop. Notable players include Pat Metheny, Kurt Rosenwinkel. Use over Maj7, mMaj7, and altered dominant chords. A modern jazz tool for fresh melodic paths.
Notes: C, D, E, G, Ab
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 5P, 6m
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 b5
Formula: W-W-WH-H-4
Number of notes: 5
Musical Character
Implies the melodic minor sound through only 5 notes, providing a contemporary jazz texture that is slightly altered without being fully 'outside'.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Contemporary Jazz, Fusion, Post-Bop
Notable players: Pat Metheny, Kurt Rosenwinkel
How to Use the C Flat Six Pentatonic Scale
Use over Maj7, mMaj7, and altered dominant chords. A modern jazz tool for fresh melodic paths.
Origin & Background
A contemporary jazz pentatonic extracted from the melodic minor system.
How to Play C Flat Six Pentatonic on Mandolin
Begin by locating C on your instrument and play through the 5 notes of the Flat Six Pentatonic scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The C Flat Six Pentatonic scale contains 1 flat (Ab). 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 100 BPM and play the C Flat 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 C. Try a C5 - G5 - Ab5 progression. This scale is especially effective in fusion contexts.
Mandolin Tips
Practice the C Flat 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 poignant quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
Flat Six Pentatonic is the Melodic minor-derived pentatonic. View C Melodic minor scale
The C Flat Six Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (C, D, E, G, Ab). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Mandolin with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for C Flat Six Pentatonic
The C Flat 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 C Flat Six Pentatonic Further
- Browse chord progressions
- C Flat Six Pentatonic on Guitar
- C Flat Six Pentatonic on Ukulele
- C Flat Six Pentatonic on Bass
- C Flat Six Pentatonic on Piano