Pentatonic Scales I: Major Pentatonic Scales

A pentatonic scale is a five-note scale, derived from a diatonic (seven-note) major or minor scale.

A major pentatonic scale contains five of the seven notes in a major scale; a minor pentatonic scale contains five of the seven notes in a minor scale.

Pentatonic scales are among the most popular scales used for soloing, as they blend well with many types of chords and are relatively easy to use. Their simplicity and easy-to-remember guitar patterns (fingerings) make them especially popular among beginners.

This post will cover how to construct a major pentatonic scale. It will also provide a common fingering for the scale, along with instruction on how to play it on a guitar in any key.

The Major Pentatonic Scale: Theory

The scale formula for a major pentatonic scale is 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.

A major pentatonic scale contains the first, second, third, fifth and sixth degrees of the major scale with the same root note.

C Major Pentatonic Scale

For example, a C major pentatonic scale contains the notes C, D, E, G and A — the first, second, third, fifth and sixth notes in a C major scale (fig.1).

Fig.1

F Major Pentatonic Scale

An F major pentatonic scale contains the notes F, G, A, C and D — the first, second, third, fifth and sixth notes in an F major scale (fig.2).

Fig.2

Relationship to a Major Scale

The scale formula for a major scale is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

The scale formula for a major pentatonic scale is 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.

A major pentatonic scale contains the same notes as the major scale with the same root note, but without the major scale’s fourth and seventh scale degrees.

Constructing a Major Pentatonic Scale

So we can construct a major pentatonic scale by omitting the fourth and seventh scale degrees from the major scale with the same root note.

For example, a C major pentatonic scale contains the same notes as a C major scale, but without the C major scale’s fourth and seventh scale degrees — the F and the B (fig.1).

An F major pentatonic scale contains the same notes as an F major scale, but without the F major scale’s fourth and seventh scale degrees — the Bb and the E (fig.2).

All 12 Major Pentatonic Scales

All 12 major pentatonic scales are shown in fig.3, along with their corresponding major scales.

Fig.3

Major Pentatonic Scales: On a Guitar

Fig.4 shows a common fingering for a major pentatonic scale.

Fig.4

This fingering will allow you to play a major pentatonic scale starting on any note:

To play a C major pentatonic scale, start the pattern on the C on the sixth string, eighth fret (fig.5a).
To play an F major pentatonic scale, start the pattern on the F on the sixth string, 13th fret (fig.5b).

Fig.5

Application

Pentatonic scales contain no half steps in their construction and, therefore, sound more open than their major and minor counterparts.

Like the major scale, the major pentatonic scale can be used to solo over major chords and major key chord progressions.