Major pentatonic scale on guitar
Country, classic rock, melodic solos. Formula 1 2 3 5 6. In A, the major pentatonic scale is A, B, C#, E, F#.
Formula and step pattern
Steps between neighbouring notes, closing on the octave: W W W+H W W+H (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = three semitones).
| Degree | Semitones from root | In A |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | A |
| 2 | 2 | B |
| 3 | 4 | C# |
| 5 | 7 | E |
| 6 | 9 | F# |
Major pentatonic scale notes in all 12 keys
The root fret columns show where each key starts on the 6th (low E) and 5th (A) strings in standard tuning.
| Key | Notes | Root on 6th string | Root on 5th string |
|---|---|---|---|
| C major pentatonic | C D E G A | 8 | 3 |
| Db major pentatonic | Db Eb F Ab Bb | 9 | 4 |
| D major pentatonic | D E F# A B | 10 | 5 |
| Eb major pentatonic | Eb F G Bb C | 11 | 6 |
| E major pentatonic | E F# G# B C# | Open (and 12) | 7 |
| F major pentatonic | F G A C D | 1 | 8 |
| F# major pentatonic | F# G# A# C# D# | 2 | 9 |
| G major pentatonic | G A B D E | 3 | 10 |
| Ab major pentatonic | Ab Bb C Eb F | 4 | 11 |
| A major pentatonic | A B C# E F# | 5 | Open (and 12) |
| Bb major pentatonic | Bb C D F G | 6 | 1 |
| B major pentatonic | B C# D# F# G# | 7 | 2 |
Fretboard positions: A major pentatonic
Root in solid cyan, scale tones outlined, from the open strings to fret 15. Slide the pattern along the neck to change key, using the root frets in the table above.
Pick another root in the scale trainer to light up the major pentatonic scale in any key.
Chords that fit A major pentatonic
Chords from the chord library built only from notes of A major pentatonic (A B C# E F#).
Related scales
- Major scale: Major pentatonic sits inside major, which adds 4 and 7.
- Minor pentatonic scale: Same notes, different home note: A major pentatonic uses the notes of F# minor pentatonic.
- Lydian scale: Major pentatonic sits inside Lydian, which adds #4 and 7.
- Mixolydian scale: Major pentatonic sits inside Mixolydian, which adds 4 and b7.