The Major Pentatonic Scale 2003 Jim Conquer

www.theguitarschool.biz

In this article we will explain the Major Pentatonic Scale and how it is formed.
Firstly, I must stress the need for the reader to cover the Guitar scales theory
article prior to this.

To form the Major Pentatonic Scale, we first take the Major Scale (Previous
article) and by selecting only the first, second, third, fifth and sixth tones from the
scale, we form the pentatonic. As follows, in the C Major Pentatonic Scale, we
have C, D, E, G, and A notes ascending and descending.

C D E G A

Using our fingerboard diagram below, we can then form the Major Pentatonic
Scale pattern as follows:

Notes and their positions on the fingerboard

String Numbers 1=E / 2=B / 3=G / 4=D / 5=A / 6=E

1
2 F G A B C D E
3 C D E F G A B
A B C D E F G
4 E F G A B C D
5 B C D E F G A
6 F G A B C D E

Beginning on the 6th string we play: 6th String C

5th String D, E
4th String G, A
3rd String C, D
2nd String E, G
1st String A, C

The Major Pentatonic Scale can be used to play over many chord sounds, and
these will be illustrated in the Pentatonic Chords article to follow. The scale
name, Pentatonic is derived from the fact that there are only five notes present
within it (Penta) (Pentagon has five sides also), the technical name of the first
note of any scale being the tonic (Tonal centre of the key)

All the Best