Pentatonic chord chart
The main pentatonic scales are minor and major variants. They are not considered as keys, but a set of chords can be nevertheless be based on these scales.
The first table with chords shows the relationship of all triads based on the Pentatonic minor scale. Since the scale consist of five notes, there are five chords included in the table. The Roman numerals refer to the related natural minor scale.
Chords based on Pentatonic minor
| Key | i | III | iv | v | VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A#m | A#m | C# | D#m7 | E#m7 | G#5 |
| D#m | D#m | F# | G#m7 | A#m7 | C#5 |
| G#m | G#m | B | C#m7 | D#m7 | F#5 |
| C#m | C#m | E | F#m7 | G#m7 | B5 |
| F#m | F#m | A | Bm7 | C#m7 | E5 |
| Bm | Bm | D | Em7 | F#m7 | A5 |
| Em | Em | G | Am7 | Bm7 | D5 |
| Am | Am | C | Dm7 | Em7 | G5 |
| Dm | Dm | F | Gm7 | Am7 | C5 |
| Gm | Gm | Bb | Cm7 | Dm7 | F5 |
| Cm | Cm | Eb | Fm7 | Gm7 | Bb5 |
| Fm | Fm | Ab | Bbm7 | Cm7 | Eb5 |
| Bbm | Bbm | Db | Ebm7 | Fm7 | Ab5 |
| Ebm | Ebm | Gb | Abm7 | Bbm7 | Db5 |
| Abm | Abm | Cb | Dbm7 | Ebm7 | Gb5 |
Comments
The iv and v chords are correctly written iv(no5) and v(no5) since the fifth interval is omitted in both occasions. The VII chord is a power chord since the third interval doesn't fit with the pentatonic minor.
Pentatonic minor chord progressions
Here are some examples of progressions:
E5 - G - A5 - F#5 (Em Pentatonic)
Cm - Bb5 - Eb5 (Cm Pentatonic)
D - F#m7 - Bm (Bm Pentatonic)
Chords built from the pentatonic minor is not optimal for creating progressions in all styles, but is especially a viable choice when it comes to rock.
Chords based on Pentatonic major
| Key | I | ii | iii | V | vi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C# | C# | D#sus2 | E#5 | G#sus4 | A#m |
| F# | F# | G#sus2 | A#5 | C#sus4 | D#m |
| B | B | C#sus2 | D#5 | F#sus4 | G#m |
| E | E | F#sus2 | G#5 | Bsus4 | C#m |
| A | A | Bsus2 | C#5 | Esus4 | F#m |
| D | D | Esus2 | F#5 | Asus4 | Bm |
| G | G | Asus2 | B5 | Dsus4 | Em |
| C | C | Dsus2 | E5 | Gsus4 | Am |
| F | F | Gsus2 | A5 | Csus4 | Dm |
| Bb | Bb | Csus2 | D5 | Fsus4 | Gm |
| Eb | Eb | Fsus2 | G5 | Bbsus4 | Cm |
| Ab | Ab | Bbsus2 | C5 | Ebsus4 | Fm |
| Db | Db | Ebsus2 | F5 | Absus4 | Bbm |
| Gb | Gb | Absus2 | Bb5 | Dbsus4 | Ebm |
| Cb | Cb | Dbsus2 | Eb5 | Gbsus4 | Abm |
Comments
The ii chord can also be played as iisus4.
Pentatonic major chord progressions
Here are some examples of progressions:
A5 - Dsus4 - G (G Pentatonic)
C5 - E5 - Am (C Pentatonic)
G#m - C#sus2 - B (B Pentatonic)
C# - A#m - D#sus4 (C# Pentatonic)
Also in this case, rock is the typical genre.
See also:
Lydian mode chord chart
Phrygian mode chord chart
