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Major pentatonic scale

The major scale without its fourth and seventh: five notes with no half steps between them, so no two clash. It is the sound of folk, country and pop melodies, and of guitar solos in major keys.

Its formula is 1 2 3 5 6: five notes, bright and open.

Make a beat in C major

Opens the free editor with a pop beat in C major to play C major pentatonic over. No account needed to start.

Hear the major pentatonic scale

Here on C, C major pentatonic. From the root up to the root: whole, whole, step and a half, whole, step and a half. Tap a key to hear it.

C D E G A C

CDEGAC
The major pentatonic scale by scale degree, on C
DegreeOn CFrom the root
1CRoot
2DMajor second
3EMajor third
5GPerfect fifth
6AMajor sixth

The major pentatonic scale in every key

The same steps from each of the twelve notes. Open one for its keyboard, its chords and a beat to play it over.

The major pentatonic scale on all twelve notes
ScaleNotes
C major pentatonicC D E G A
D♭ major pentatonicD♭ E♭ F A♭ B♭
D major pentatonicD E F♯ A B
E♭ major pentatonicE♭ F G B♭ C
E major pentatonicE F♯ G♯ B C♯
F major pentatonicF G A C D
F♯ major pentatonicF♯ G♯ A♯ C♯ D♯
G major pentatonicG A B D E
A♭ major pentatonicA♭ B♭ C E♭ F
A major pentatonicA B C♯ E F♯
B♭ major pentatonicB♭ C D F G
B major pentatonicB C♯ D♯ F♯ G♯

Questions about the major pentatonic scale

What is the major pentatonic scale?

The major scale without its fourth and seventh: five notes with no half steps between them, so no two clash. It is the sound of folk, country and pop melodies, and of guitar solos in major keys.

What is the formula of the major pentatonic scale?

1 2 3 5 6: 5 notes, counted from the major scale on the same root. Its steps from the root up to the root are: whole, whole, step and a half, whole, step and a half.

How do I play the major pentatonic scale in any key?

Start on any note and follow the steps above. A major pentatonic: A B C♯ E F♯; C major pentatonic: C D E G A; E major pentatonic: E F♯ G♯ B C♯. Every key is on this page, each with its own page and keyboard.

More scales and modes

Scales and modes
Major and minor keysMajor pentatonic scaleMinor pentatonic scaleBlues scaleHarmonic minor scaleMelodic minor scaleDorian modePhrygian modeLydian modeMixolydian modeLocrian modePhrygian dominant scaleWhole tone scale

Build a song on the major pentatonic scale

Start with the beat, then add chords, a melody and your voice in the editor, part by part.

Make a beat in C majorAll music scales

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