> Five Notes Instead of Seven
The pentatonic scale uses five notes instead of the seven found in major and minor scales. The name comes from the Greek "pente" (five) and "tonos" (tone).
But it is not just any five notes. The pentatonic scale removes the two notes that create the most tension: the 4th and 7th degrees. What remains is a scale that sounds good over almost any chord in the key, making it the default choice for guitarists learning to improvise.
Major Scale vs Major Pentatonic:
Major Scale: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
Major Pentatonic: 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 - 6
Removed: 4th and 7th degrees
> Why Removing 4 and 7 Works
In the previous article, you learned that the 4th and 7th are the highest tension notes in the major scale. The 4th sits a half step above the 3rd. The 7th sits a half step below the root. Both create strong pull.
By removing these notes, the pentatonic scale eliminates all half step intervals. Every note is at least a whole step from its neighbors. This spacing means no note clashes harshly with another.
Interval Structure:
Major Pentatonic intervals:
1 → 2 (whole step)
2 → 3 (whole step)
3 → 5 (minor third / 3 semitones)
5 → 6 (whole step)
6 → 1 (minor third / 3 semitones)
The result: a scale where you can play any note at any time without hitting a "wrong" note. This safety net makes pentatonic scales ideal for beginners.
> Minor Pentatonic: The Guitar Standard
While major pentatonic exists, guitarists more commonly use the minor pentatonic. This is the scale behind countless rock, blues, and pop solos.
Minor Pentatonic Formula:
Degrees: 1 - b3 - 4 - 5 - b7
Note: This removes the 2nd and 6th from the natural minor scale
The minor pentatonic includes the flat 3rd (giving it a minor quality) and the flat 7th (giving it a bluesy edge). The combination of these two notes is why minor pentatonic works so well over rock and blues progressions.
Major pentatonic and minor pentatonic are relatives. A minor pentatonic contains the same notes as C major pentatonic, just starting from a different root.
> Why Pentatonic Sounds Safe
Pentatonic scales work over most chord progressions in a key because they avoid the notes most likely to clash. When you play a pentatonic scale:
- You never land on the 4th over a major chord (where it would clash with the 3rd)
- You never land on the 7th over a chord where it creates unwanted tension
- Every note you play is a chord tone of at least one common chord in the key
This versatility is why teachers often start students with pentatonic scales. You can put on a backing track, play the right pentatonic, and everything sounds acceptable.
> The Limitations
The same features that make pentatonic safe can make it limiting:
Without the 7th, you cannot create the classic 7→1 resolution. This limits melodic finality.
The 4th adds emotional depth and yearning. Pentatonic melodies can sound one-dimensional without it.
Everyone uses pentatonic. Overreliance on it makes your playing sound like everyone else.
Advanced playing requires hitting chord tones as chords change. Pentatonic lacks some critical chord tones.
> Going Beyond Pentatonic
The solution is not to abandon pentatonic but to expand beyond it. Think of pentatonic as the skeleton and the full scale as the complete body.
Start with pentatonic shapes you know, then add the missing notes:
Adding Notes to Minor Pentatonic:
- Add the 2nd: Creates passing movement to the b3
- Add the 6th: Adds a major scale color (Dorian sound)
- Add the b5 (blue note): Classic blues tension
Each addition expands your vocabulary. You are not learning new scales so much as filling in the gaps of what you already know.
The goal is to reach a point where pentatonic is a choice, not a crutch. You play it because it serves the music, not because it is all you know.
> Common Mistakes
Pentatonic has five positions like any scale. Learn all of them.
Pentatonic licks become cliches fast. Focus on rhythm and phrasing, not just notes.
Major pentatonic has a completely different character. Use it over major chords for a sweeter sound.
> PRACTICE THIS
Open the Scale Learning Machine and select A Minor Pentatonic. Play through the E Shape position (the classic "box 1"). Then switch to A Natural Minor in the same position and identify the two additional notes (the 2nd and 6th). Practice adding these notes into your pentatonic phrases one at a time.
Open Scale Learning Machine