So like, pentatonic scales have 5 sides to them or what?
In this tutorial, we are going to talk about pentatonic scales, both major and minor. So, let's have some fun.
2. Major pentatonic scales
Major pentatonic scales, much like their minor counterparts, are scales that contain five notes. Pentatonic scales are used by guitarists during their solos, especially in rock genres.
And as you're about to see, major and minor pentatonic scales are fairly similar in shape.
In order to obtain a major pentatonic scale, you need to play the first, second, third, fifth, and sixth notes of the major scale.
For example, the C major pentatonic scale will consist of the C, D, E, G, and A notes.
There are 5 different shapes for this scale on a guitar. Let's start with the one known as the G-form or the G box:
Let's move on to the E-form box:
The next one is the D form:
Next up, the C form:
And finally, the A form:
3. Minor pentatonic scales
Minor pentatonic scales function in a similar manner. Only instead of looking at the major scale, we look at the minor one.
In order to obtain a minor scale, we need to play the first, third, fourth, fifth, and seventh notes of the minor scale.
For example, the A minor pentatonic scale will consist of the A, C, D, E, and G notes. As you can see, the notes are the same ones from the C major pentatonic scale, but in a different order.
Consequently, the shapes in which you can play the A minor pentatonic scale are the same as the ones for the C major pentatonic scale.
The only difference is what you consider the root note. Here is what I am referring to, by using the A form. For minor pentatonic though, that form is actually the G form:
As you can see, the form is identical, the only difference being what we consider the root note. The same goes for all the forms above. The G form changes its name to the E form for minor pentatonic scales:
The E form from above becomes the D form now:
The D form from above becomes the C form:
Finally, the C form from above now becomes the A form:
And that about covers it for this tutorial. In the next one, we are going to discuss chromatic scales. See you then.
- Topics of discussion
- Major pentatonic scales
- Minor pentatonic scales
In this tutorial, we are going to talk about pentatonic scales, both major and minor. So, let's have some fun.
2. Major pentatonic scales
Major pentatonic scales, much like their minor counterparts, are scales that contain five notes. Pentatonic scales are used by guitarists during their solos, especially in rock genres.
And as you're about to see, major and minor pentatonic scales are fairly similar in shape.
In order to obtain a major pentatonic scale, you need to play the first, second, third, fifth, and sixth notes of the major scale.
For example, the C major pentatonic scale will consist of the C, D, E, G, and A notes.
There are 5 different shapes for this scale on a guitar. Let's start with the one known as the G-form or the G box:
Let's move on to the E-form box:
The next one is the D form:
Next up, the C form:
And finally, the A form:
3. Minor pentatonic scales
Minor pentatonic scales function in a similar manner. Only instead of looking at the major scale, we look at the minor one.
In order to obtain a minor scale, we need to play the first, third, fourth, fifth, and seventh notes of the minor scale.
For example, the A minor pentatonic scale will consist of the A, C, D, E, and G notes. As you can see, the notes are the same ones from the C major pentatonic scale, but in a different order.
Consequently, the shapes in which you can play the A minor pentatonic scale are the same as the ones for the C major pentatonic scale.
The only difference is what you consider the root note. Here is what I am referring to, by using the A form. For minor pentatonic though, that form is actually the G form:
As you can see, the form is identical, the only difference being what we consider the root note. The same goes for all the forms above. The G form changes its name to the E form for minor pentatonic scales:
The E form from above becomes the D form now:
The D form from above becomes the C form:
Finally, the C form from above now becomes the A form:
And that about covers it for this tutorial. In the next one, we are going to discuss chromatic scales. See you then.