Pentatonic Scales
A pentatonic scale, as the name implies, has only five notes and is based on either the major or minor scale. Pentatonic scales are great start for song writing and improvising.
Major Pentatonic Scale:
In this tutorial instead of using note names I’ll refer to scale degree numbers 1-7 of the major and minor scales. This makes it easy to transpose the scale into different keys and gives you a much wider view for learning.
The major pentatonic scale is scale degrees 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 of the regular major scale. You’ll notice that it’s a major scale without degees 4 and 7. When you remove degrees 4 and 7 from the major scale there are no more half steps; for this reason pretty much any note in the major pentatonic scale sounds good over a major chord progression.
Examples
Since I’m a sucker for examples let’s throw a few out there. In these written examples you can see the gaps where note degrees 4 & 7 are omitted for the major pentatonic scale.
C major pentatonic scale:
Notes: C – D – E – G – A
G major pentatonic scale:
Notes: G – A – B – D – E
Eb Major Pentatonic Scale
Notes: Eb – F – G – Bb – C
Minor Pentatonic Scale:
The minor pentatonic scale is 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 of the natural minor scale. That is, a natural minor scale without degrees 2 and 6. Sometimes it’s easier for me to think of a major pentatonic scale that starts and ends on degree 6.
E minor pentatonic scale:
Page last updated September 8th, 2011