A major pentatonic scale on piano

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 keyboard

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Numbers above the keys are the scale degrees; the root is filled.

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