Exploring Pentatonic Scales

All Music © Alan J Currie

We are going to explore pentatonic music. “Penta” means five, as in pentagon.

Pentatonic music is made up of five different notes.

Here is a pentatonic scale. It can begin on any note. Here we have F sharp (#), so the scale is called F# major pentatonic.

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These five note scales are the basis of many forms of music. They use the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th notes of the scale, for example:

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We are going to learn three simple pentatonic scales, these are C,F and G. C major pentatonic = C, D, E, G, A.

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F major pentatonic = F, G, A, C, D.

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G major pentatonic = G, A, B, D, E.

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Time to get composing. Use the C major pentatonic scale.

Don’t be afraid to experiment and experiment with short melodies. Listen carefully to what you create.

Record your music!