G Flat Six Pentatonic Piano Scale
Piano scale diagramAdvanced
G Flat Six Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The G Flat Six Pentatonic scale is a modern synthetic pentatonic used to imply the sound of the melodic minor system. On Piano, its notes are G, A, B, D, Eb. 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: G, A, B, D, Eb
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 G 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 G Flat Six Pentatonic on Piano
On piano, the G Flat Six Pentatonic scale uses 1 black key. Start with your thumb on G and use the black keys as landmarks for consistent finger placement. Standard major or minor fingering patterns apply.
The G Flat Six Pentatonic scale contains 1 flat (Eb). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the G Flat Six Pentatonic scale ascending and descending at 100 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (G-B, A-D) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in G. Try a G5 - D5 - Eb5 progression. This scale is especially effective in contemporary jazz contexts.
Piano Tips
At the piano, try voicing the G Flat Six Pentatonic scale in the left hand as blocked intervals (thirds or sixths) while the right hand plays the melody. This develops your harmonic ear and comping skills simultaneously. 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 G Melodic minor scale
The G Flat Six Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (G, A, B, D, Eb). Use the interactive piano diagram above to explore this scale on Piano.