Major pentatonic scales

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A major pentatonic scale comes from a major scale by removing the 4th and 7th degrees. So a major pentatonic scale consists of only the 1 2 3 5 6 of the major scale.

 

 

 

 

C D E F G A B C - C major scale
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 - scale functions

Basic major scale functions indicated |--7--|--1--|-----|--2--| -1st string |-----|--5--|-----|--6--| |--2--|-----|--3--|--4--| |--6--|-----|--7--|--1--| |--3--|--4--|-----|--5--| |-----|--1--|-----|--2--| -6th string

It may seem funny, but the formula for a major pentatonic scale is 1 2 3 5 6. The G may be the 4th note in a major pentatonic scale, but it is not considered a "4". Remember that the numbers that you see in music are in relationship to the major scale. And in a C major scale G is the 5th note.

C D E G A C- C major scale
1 2 3 5 6 1 - scale functions

Basic major pentatonic scale functions indicated |-----|--1--|-----|--2--| -1st string |-----|--5--|-----|--6--| |--2--|-----|--3--|-----| |--6--|-----|-----|--1--| |--3--|-----|-----|--5--| |-----|--1--|-----|--2--| -6th string

For a reference page with all major pentatonic scale forms click the button below.

 

Page 1, Major and minor scale review

Page 3, Minor pentatonic scales