How to Play a Major Pentatonic Scale

By: Jerry A. Greene

Question: How do you create and play in a pentatonic scale that is built off of a major scale?

Answer: The major pentatonic scale is very easy to figure out. First, you need to know your key signatures and major scales. The easiest to figure out would be C Pentatonic, since there are no sharps and flats.

You simply play the C major scale, but leave out the 4 and 7, leaving

C D E G A

5 notes...PENTAtonic Scale!

Another way of looking at it is that it is these major scale degrees:

1 2 3 5 6

One of the great things about playing in a major pentatonic scale, is that you can improvise and never sound "wrong". Just make sure you center around the 1st degree of the scale and see what you can come up with!