A major pentatonic scale on guitar

The major pentatonic has only five notes: the major scale without the 4th and 7th degrees. With no half steps, it always sounds right: perfect for improvising in country, pop and rock.

On the whole neck

EADGBEEF♯ABC♯EABC♯EF♯AEF♯ABC♯ABC♯EF♯BC♯EF♯ABEF♯ABC♯E0123456789101112

Position from fret 5

EADGBEABEAC♯EF♯AB5678

Root notes are filled. The position groups the notes of the scale in one area of the neck, starting from the root on the 6th string.

Notes of the scale

DegreeNoteInterval
1Aroot
2Bmajor second
3C♯ (C sharp)major third
4Eperfect fifth
5F♯ (F sharp)major sixth

Steps between notes: W – W – W+H – W – W+H (W = whole step, H = half step)

Relative scale: the F sharp minor pentatonic scale, with exactly the same notes.

Other A scales

The same scale in other keys