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.
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! 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.