About the E 9b5 Pentatonic scale
E 9b5 Pentatonic is used for jazz solos over altered and half-diminished chords. Think of it as a five-note scale with a minor third and a flat fifth.
Its notes are E, F♯, G, B♭, and D. The formula is W H 1½ 4 semitones W.
On the piano, the mode touches the black keys F♯ and B♭.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | EE | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | F#F♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | GG | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | BbB♭ | Diminished 5th |
| 5 | DD | Minor 7th |
| Steps | W H 1½ 4 semitones W |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-1-3-4-2 |
| Degrees | 1 2 ♭3 ♭5 ♭7 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths