PENTATONIC SCALES
The pentatonic scales most commonly used in Western music, and in many cultures throughout the world, consist of 5 notes per octave separated by intervals of whole tones (2 semitones or half steps) and minor 3rds (3 semitones or half steps). Of the five possible arrangements, by far the most common are the pentatonic major scale and the pentatonic minor scale. For example:
C PENTATONIC MAJOR - C D E G A
A PENTATONIC MINOR - A C D E G
Coming from the same pentatonic note set, they have exactly the same notes in the same ascending alphabetical (pitch) order but with different starting positions. The real difference is that music based on C pentatonic major relates to C as a tonal centre or tonic, and music based on A pentatonic minor relates to A as the tonal centre. As the intervals above each of those tonics aren't the same in both cases, they impart different musical flavours - in much the same way that major and minor key-based songs do too.
The example above shows scales starting on C and A, but they can be transposed to begin on any note as explained below the chart.
C PENTATONIC MAJOR - C D E G A
A PENTATONIC MINOR - A C D E G
Coming from the same pentatonic note set, they have exactly the same notes in the same ascending alphabetical (pitch) order but with different starting positions. The real difference is that music based on C pentatonic major relates to C as a tonal centre or tonic, and music based on A pentatonic minor relates to A as the tonal centre. As the intervals above each of those tonics aren't the same in both cases, they impart different musical flavours - in much the same way that major and minor key-based songs do too.
The example above shows scales starting on C and A, but they can be transposed to begin on any note as explained below the chart.
- The above charts show five standard pentatonic patterns that can be played within a single fretboard position spanning four (or five) frets. Fret numbers aren't shown because these patterns can be played at any fretboard position using the 'one finger per fret' default fingering. To know where a particular pentatonic scale is located, the scale tonics are shown as red for major and green for minor, you can use any pattern and place the tonic on whichever fret on the specified string produces that note. For example, C major pentatonic with pattern 1 would begin on string 6 at fret 8 with your 2nd finger.
Patterns 1 and 5 are those most closely associated with the pentatonic major and pentatonic minor scales, respectively. You can see, however, that both scales are present in every pattern.
Pattern 1 is associated with the pentatonic major scale because the lowest note of that pattern is the tonic or root (coloured red) of the pentatonic major scale and there are two complete octaves' worth of scale notes above that.
Pattern 5 is associated with the pentatonic minor scale for the same reason. There are two complete octaves available between the lowest tonic (coloured green) on string 6 to the highest tonic on string 1.
Patterns 2, 3 & 4 are unnamed rotations of the pentatonic note set. They're sometimes referred to as 'modes' of the pentatonic scale.
All five patterns contain at least one octave of both the pentatonic major and minor scales. By practising the patterns using the standard 'finger per fret' fingering system (apart from pattern 2 as mentioned above) AND memorising where the pentatonic major and minor scale tonics/roots (reds and greens) lie within each pattern, you will have access to all major and minor pentatonic scales anywhere on the fretboard.
Pentatonic Trivia
The major and minor pentatonic scales sound distinctive to us due to having no semitone or half step intervals. Pentatonic scales without semitones are classed as anhemitonic, which is just a fancy-sounding way of saying they have no semitones. Pentatonic scales with semitones (hemitonic) exist in some Eastern cultures, but aren't part of Western tradition.
The pentatonic minor scale is the most popular scale choice for rock and blues melodic improvising, especially music in major keys. The flat 3rd of the scale clashes with the (major) 3rd of the tonic chord in way that is very appealing and bluesy. The blues scale (in its most common form) is a modified minor pentatonic scale with a flat 5th (another 'blue' note) added.
Pentatonic scales are considered to be among the most ancient of scales, having been found in many primitive folk music cultures all over the world.
The black notes of a piano form the pentatonic note set C# D# F# G# A# (or Db Eb Gb Ab Bb if you prefer). These plus the seven natural diatonic white notes make the full twelve-note chromatic scale.