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Minor pentatonic
The minor pentatonic up to the octave and back, the basic scale of R&B and soul runs. The minor third and the seventh give it a darker color than the major pentatonic.
The minor pentatonic has five notes per octave: root, minor third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth and minor seventh. Here you sing it up to the octave and back down. Without the half steps of the natural minor scale it sounds open, and the minor third and seventh make it darker than the major pentatonic, which is why R&B, soul and blues melodies lean on it. The exercise trains accuracy on the minor third and seventh and even movement between steps. “Ah” is open and relaxed, so every note stays clear.
How to do it
- Listen to the piano play the scale once, then sing it with the piano on “ah” after the two count-in clicks.
- Climb to the octave in small, even steps: minor third, fourth, fifth, minor seventh, octave. Then come back the same way.
- Watch the minor third on the roll. Aim for green, and don't let the line drift toward the brighter major third.
- Keep the octave light, and hold the final root steady for two beats.
- Each repetition starts a semitone higher until you're near the top of your range, then the pattern moves back down.
Coach's tip: Keep the minor third low on purpose – don't pull it up to major. Keep the top octave light, don't push.
What to watch out for
The minor third is the usual trouble spot: your ear wants to pull it up toward a major third, and the roll shows the line sharp. Keep it low on purpose. The minor seventh near the top can sag if you run short of air on the way up, so breathe before you start. Don't push the octave for volume. If your throat feels scratchy or sore, stop, or lower the tempo and the range.
Who it's for
A level 2 exercise for anyone who can already sing a major scale cleanly and wants the sound of R&B and soul. Use it early in the main block, once you're warm. Minor triad is a good lead-in, and Blues scale with the “blue note” is the natural next step. It belongs to the R&B / soul style, so choosing that style gives it priority in your daily training.
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Related exercises
- Major scale (octave) A full octave up and down.
- Minor scale Natural minor scale – a darker sound, typical of ballads.
- Major pentatonic Five notes that almost all pop runs are built from.
- Slow legato up to the sixth The first five degrees of the major scale, the sixth held for three beats and back down to the root – slowly, on one vowel, with no gaps between notes.
- Twang on “nyah” A bright, narrow “nyah” on the first five scale degrees, holding the fifth. Twang is the safe base of rock edge – the voice sounds sharp while the throat stays loose.
- Scat warm-up in swing Root, second, third, fifth and back down – lightly, on “doo-bee”. Swing rhythm: the first note of each pair is longer, the second short, as in jazz.