Scales reference
Major Pentatonic Scale
The major pentatonic scale is a five-note collection derived from major-scale degrees without the fourth and seventh.
Developing reference
Browser PLAY
Explore Major Pentatonic Scale
The concept is loaded from the authoritative browser export. Change root, instrument, labels, and handedness freely without leaving this reference page.
Open in PLAYBrowser PLAY is ready.
Current selection
C Major Pentatonic Scale
- Theory
- Scale
- Written root
- C
- Instrument
- 6-string Guitar
- Tuning
- E Standard
- Labels
- Notes
- Handedness
- Right handed
| String, low to high | Fret | Current label | Note | Degree | Interval | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 1 | 3 | G | G | 4 | 5 | No |
| 1 | 5 | A | A | 5 | 6 | No |
| 1 | 8 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 1 | 10 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 1 | 12 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 1 | 15 | G | G | 4 | 5 | No |
| 1 | 17 | A | A | 5 | 6 | No |
| 1 | 20 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 1 | 22 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 1 | 24 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 2 | 0 | A | A | 5 | 6 | No |
| 2 | 3 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | 5 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 2 | 7 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 2 | 10 | G | G | 4 | 5 | No |
| 2 | 12 | A | A | 5 | 6 | No |
| 2 | 15 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | 17 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 2 | 19 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 2 | 22 | G | G | 4 | 5 | No |
| 2 | 24 | A | A | 5 | 6 | No |
| 3 | 0 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 3 | 2 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 3 | 5 | G | G | 4 | 5 | No |
| 3 | 7 | A | A | 5 | 6 | No |
| 3 | 10 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 3 | 12 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 3 | 14 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 3 | 17 | G | G | 4 | 5 | No |
| 3 | 19 | A | A | 5 | 6 | No |
| 3 | 22 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 3 | 24 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 4 | 0 | G | G | 4 | 5 | No |
| 4 | 2 | A | A | 5 | 6 | No |
| 4 | 5 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 7 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 4 | 9 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 4 | 12 | G | G | 4 | 5 | No |
| 4 | 14 | A | A | 5 | 6 | No |
| 4 | 17 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 19 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 4 | 21 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 4 | 24 | G | G | 4 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 1 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | 3 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 5 | 5 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 5 | 8 | G | G | 4 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 10 | A | A | 5 | 6 | No |
| 5 | 13 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | 15 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 5 | 17 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 5 | 20 | G | G | 4 | 5 | No |
| 5 | 22 | A | A | 5 | 6 | No |
| 6 | 0 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 6 | 3 | G | G | 4 | 5 | No |
| 6 | 5 | A | A | 5 | 6 | No |
| 6 | 8 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | 10 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 6 | 12 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
| 6 | 15 | G | G | 4 | 5 | No |
| 6 | 17 | A | A | 5 | 6 | No |
| 6 | 20 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | 22 | D | D | 2 | 2 | No |
| 6 | 24 | E | E | 3 | 3 | No |
Overview
Major pentatonic preserves the tonic, major third, and perfect fifth that strongly define major quality. Its reduced note set creates wide melodic spaces and avoids the semitone pairs found in the complete major scale.
Construction
The collection uses five degrees from the major scale. The authoritative formula identifies them directly, while the omitted fourth and seventh explain much of the scale's open spacing.
Characteristics
Because adjacent notes are separated by whole tones or larger gaps, the scale often sounds clear and flexible. Its notes also form the relative counterpart of a minor pentatonic collection when heard from a different tonic.
Applications
Major pentatonic is useful for melody, improvisation, sequencing, ear training, and fretboard connection. Comparing it with the full major scale reveals how omitted degrees change available tension and direction.