A Pentatonic Major
A Pentatonic scale for guitar.
The A Pentatonic Major is a five-note scale. The diagram shows a fingerboard with the scale notes. Darker color marks the root notes, which are A tones. In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 5th fret.
A Pentatonic Major 2 octaves
A Pentatonic Major full fretboard
A Pentatonic Major with note names
Shape 1 (4th position)
Shape 5 (2nd position)
The scale and its scale degrees.
| Formula | Notes |
|---|---|
| 1 | A |
| 2 | B |
| 3 | C# |
| 5 | E |
| 6 | F# |
The fourth degree is omitted, as well as the seventh, since the degrees are based on the regular Major seven-note scale.
The interval formula (2 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3) can be expound into specific notes of the scale.
| Notes (ascending) | Interval |
|---|---|
| A-B | M2 |
| A-C# | M3 |
| A-E | P5 |
| A-F# | M6 |
| Notes (descending) | Interval |
|---|---|
| A-F# | m3 |
| A-E | P4 |
| A-C# | m6 |
| A-B | m7 |
Abbreviations are used: M / m stands for major / minor and P stands for perfect.
The notes in the scale can be described as intervals, written as 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 from the first note to the first in next octave.
The A Pentatonic Major is relative to F# Pentatonic Minor. Both scales include the same notes but with different root notes.
This scale is one of the most common for guitarists and utilized in conjunction with lots of styles, including pop, country and blues.
The easiest way to learn this scale is probably to think of it as the A Major scale without the fourth and the seventh degrees.
Some of the chords that are related to this scale are listed here:
- A
- Bm7
- C#m7
- Esus4
- F#m
The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the A Pentatonic Major scale. Notice that the match is not completely exact, the third (D) in Bm7 and the fifth (G#) in C#m7 are not included in the scale.
Related to this scale is the A Pentatonic Major add4, adding the 4th degree. It can be displayed as follows:
| Formula | Notes | Intervals | Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Unison | Tonic |
| 2 | B | Major second | Supertonic |
| 3 | C# | Major third | Mediant |
| 4 | D | Perfect fourth | Subdominant |
| 5 | E | Perfect fifth | Dominant |
| 6 | F# | Sixth | Submediant |
The A Pentatonic Major add4 scale, is identical with the A Major except for missing the major 7th interval.
Start the audio and play along with your guitar! Use notes from the scale in the diagram above.
Normal tempo:A Pentatonic Major scale first shape ascending.
The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.