C 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

EADGBEEGACDEACDEGADEGACDGACDEGCDEGAEGACDE0123456789101112

Position from fret 8

EADGBECDGCEGACD891011

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
1Croot
2Dmajor second
3Emajor third
4Gperfect fifth
5Amajor sixth

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

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

Other C scales

The same scale in other keys