Reccomended Watching
Check out how Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale on YouTube
The Pentatonic Scale
The Pentatonic Scale is a five note scale that is commonly heard in music from all across the world. The Penatonic scale is favoured by guitarists because of its’ playabilty and accessibilty. They are easier to play on the guitar by design as each of these shapes comprise of two notes per string. There are five Penatonic shapes that make up the fretboard (one for each chord in the CAGED system). The shape below is the most commonly played Penatonic shape on the guitar and is usually referred to as the ‘box shape’.
Determining Tonality
Section titled “Determining Tonality”Notice that the major and the minor blues shapes below are identicle. This is because of the relative relationship between major and minor. What determines the tonality of any scale depends on the musical context it is placed in, and as a result the root note’s placement will change in accordance.
Open Position
Section titled “Open Position”The examples below illustrate the relative minor of G major is E minor and the relative major of E minor is G major.
Position 5 - G Major Penatonic Scale
Section titled “Position 5 - G Major Penatonic Scale”G major pentatonic scale
6
1
3
5
1
2
5
6
2
3
6
1
B A T
0
3
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
3
0
3
Position 1 - E Minor Penatonic Scale
Section titled “Position 1 - E Minor Penatonic Scale”E minor pentatonic scale
1
♭3
5
♭7
♭3
4
♭7
1
4
5
1
♭3
B A T
0
3
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
3
0
3
Closed Position
Section titled “Closed Position”The examples below illustrate the relative minor of C major is A minor and the relative major of A minor is C major.
Position 5 - C Major Penatonic Scale
Section titled “Position 5 - C Major Penatonic Scale”C major pentatonic scale
6
1
3
5
1
2
5
6
2
3
6
1
5
B A T
5
8
5
7
5
7
5
7
5
8
5
8
Position 1 - A Minor Penatonic Scale
Section titled “Position 1 - A Minor Penatonic Scale”A minor pentatonic scale
1
♭3
5
♭7
♭3
4
♭7
1
4
5
1
♭3
5
B A T
5
8
5
7
5
7
5
7
5
8
5
8
Exercises
Section titled “Exercises”The following exercises are designed to help familiarise the sound and memorise the box shape of the pentatonic scale.
Linear
Section titled “Linear”Ascending & Descending
B A T
0
3
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
3
0
3
B A T
0
3
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
3
0
Sequences
Section titled “Sequences”Groups of 4 Note Sequence
Section titled “Groups of 4 Note Sequence” B A T
0
3
0
2
3
0
2
0
B A T
0
2
0
2
2
0
2
0
B A T
0
2
0
2
2
0
2
0
B A T
0
2
0
3
2
0
3
0
B A T
0
3
0
3
3
0
3
Intervallic Sequence
Section titled “Intervallic Sequence” B A T
0
0
3
2
0
0
2
2
0
0
B A T
2
2
0
0
2
3
0
0
3
3