Pentatonic and blues scales

With only five notes, the pentatonic scale is probably the most universal scale of all: it is found in the traditional songs of Scotland, China, Japan, West Africa and the Andes, in gospel, blues, rock… Its special feature: no half steps, so no note "clashes". You cannot play a wrong note!

Major pentatonic

Take the major scale and remove degrees 4 and 7 (the two notes that form half steps): C D E G A.

M:4/4
L:1/4
Q:1/4=90
K:C
C D E G | A c2 z |]

The piano's black keys form a pentatonic scale by themselves (F♯ G♯ A♯ C♯ D♯). Try it: improvise freely on the black keys and everything will sound right. And Amazing Grace, which you heard in the time-signature lesson, uses only the five notes of a pentatonic scale!

Minor pentatonic

The same notes as the relative major pentatonic, starting on A: A C D E G (degrees 1, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭7). It is the king of rock and blues scales.

M:4/4
L:1/4
Q:1/4=90
K:C
A c d e | g a2 z |]

The blues scale

Add a chromatic passing note to the minor pentatonic, the flat fifth (♭5): this is the blue note, the note that "cries". C blues scale: C E♭ F F♯ G B♭ C.

M:4/4
L:1/4
Q:1/4=90
K:C
C _E F ^F | G _B c2 |]

A typical little riff, to be played with swing:

M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=100
K:C
"C7"c2 _B G ^F =F _E C | "F7"_E F ^F G- G4 | "C7"c2 _B c- c _B G _E | "C7"C8 |]