Major pentatonic scale: formula and uses
The major pentatonic scale has five notes: 1 2 3 5 6. In C it is C D E G A. It is the major scale without its fourth and seventh notes, and it sounds bright, open and friendly. Folk, country and pop melodies use it constantly.
The major pentatonic scale is the sunny partner of the minor pentatonic. It has five notes, no half steps and no clashes, and it sounds open and relaxed. You can make up a melody on it almost at random and the result will sound pleasant, which is why it is so common in folk songs, country music, pop hooks and children's songs.
The major pentatonic formula
Measured from the tonic, the notes are the root, the major second, the major third, the perfect fifth and the major sixth. As scale degrees: 1 2 3 5 6. In half steps from the tonic they are 0, 2, 4, 7 and 9, so the gaps between them are 2, 2, 3, 2, 3.
| Degree | Name | Notes in C major pentatonic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Root | C |
| 2 | Major second | D |
| 3 | Major third | E |
| 5 | Perfect fifth | G |
| 6 | Major sixth | A |
Compared with the full major scale, the fourth and seventh degrees are gone. In C major, that is F and B. They are the notes that form half steps with the third and the tonic, so removing them takes out the tension of the scale.
How to build it in any key
- Write the major scale of the key.
- Cross out the fourth and seventh notes.
- Keep the other five notes, starting from the tonic.
For G major the scale is G A B C D E F♯. Removing C and F♯ leaves G A B D E.
Why does it sound so friendly?
A scale with no half steps has no strong pull toward any one note, so every note feels at home. There is no leading tone to demand a resolution. Over a major chord, every note of the scale is either a chord tone or a gentle color tone (the second and sixth), and none of them sound sour. This makes the scale a safe choice for beginners improvising and for songwriters looking for a catchy melody.
Its relative minor
The C major pentatonic scale and the A minor pentatonic scale contain the same five notes. The notes are the same, but the home note changes. On the guitar, one pattern of fingering gives you both, starting from different roots. See the minor pentatonic scale page for the other half of the pair, and relative minor for how the two keys are linked.
Where you hear it
- Country and folk melodies, and guitar licks in country and southern rock.
- Many pop and rock hooks.
- Traditional tunes from Scotland, Ireland, China and many other places.
- Children's songs and school instrument improvisation.
A well-known exercise is to play only the black keys on a piano. They form the F♯ major pentatonic scale, and every combination sounds good.
Practice tip: Improvise over a repeating C chord with only the notes C D E G A. Then change to a G chord and keep using the same five notes. Hear which still sound good and which feel less settled.
Pentatonic melodies you can try
To hear the scale in action, make up a tune using only the five notes, and keep it simple. Start on the root, move by step and by skip, and end on the root or the fifth. Because no two notes clash, the tune will sound complete, even if you have never composed before. Many well-known folk tunes follow this exact method.
You can also play the scale as a repeating pattern under a chord. Over a major chord on the root, every note works. Over the chord a fourth higher or a fifth higher, most notes still work, but the third of the scale may not fit as well, so listen carefully.
Try the scale in a few keys, such as C, G and D. Compare the key signatures shown on each key page, and see how the five notes are always found in the major scale.
One more thing to try
Compare this scale with the minor pentatonic on the same tonic. In C, major pentatonic is C D E G A, and minor pentatonic is C E♭ F G B♭. Three of the five notes change, and the mood changes completely. Playing both in turn is a quick way to hear what makes a sound major or minor.
For more, see the general pentatonic scale page and the major scales overview.
Major pentatonic scale in every key
| Key | Notes |
|---|---|
| C major pentatonic | C D E G A C |
| D♭ major pentatonic | D♭ E♭ F A♭ B♭ D♭ |
| D major pentatonic | D E F♯ A B D |
| E♭ major pentatonic | E♭ F G B♭ C E♭ |
| E major pentatonic | E F♯ G♯ B C♯ E |
| F major pentatonic | F G A C D F |
| F♯ major pentatonic | F♯ G♯ A♯ C♯ D♯ F♯ |
| G major pentatonic | G A B D E G |
| A♭ major pentatonic | A♭ B♭ C E♭ F A♭ |
| A major pentatonic | A B C♯ E F♯ A |
| B♭ major pentatonic | B♭ C D F G B♭ |
| B major pentatonic | B C♯ D♯ F♯ G♯ B |
Check yourself
1. Which two notes of the major scale are left out of the major pentatonic?
Answer: The 4th and 7th. Those are the notes that form half steps in the major scale.
2. What are the notes of C major pentatonic?
Answer: C D E G A. That is 1 2 3 5 6 of C major.
3. What are the notes of G major pentatonic?
Answer: G A B D E. Remove C and F♯ from the G major scale.
4. What is the relative minor pentatonic of C major pentatonic?
Answer: A minor pentatonic. They share the same five notes.