the pentatonic major scale
the pentatonic major scale is a very popular scale in rock music. this page will tell you
what the pentatonic major scale looks like. from there, i will teach you the
five modes of the pentatonic major scale. so pick up your guitar and get ready to
play some scales!
the pentatonic major scale contains five different pitches (pent=five, tonic=tones).
the pentatonic major scale is made up of the following pattern of whole and 1½ steps:
on standard musical notation, the g pentatonic major scale looks like the diagram below.
shown below that is the g pentatonic major scale played on one string.
notice the pattern of whole and 1½ steps while you play this, and notice
that there are no half steps:
this pattern of whole and 1½ steps will be important for the rest of the
pentatonic major scale lessons. try to get an understanding of how it sounds and how it feels
to your ears. don't necessarily memorize the pattern; memorizing will not help you
learn. get a feeling of how it sounds and remember it that way.
everything from here on will be in the key of g major, just to provide continuity.
move on to the first mode once you understand the pattern.
back to the pentatonic major
scale main page
you are visitor number
since 5-21-97
© 1997 daniel e. smith.