Scale type
Major Pentatonic Scales on Piano
The major pentatonic scale removes the two half-step-adjacent notes (the 4th and 7th degrees) from the major scale, leaving five notes that blend smoothly over almost any diatonic chord. It is one of the oldest and most universal scales in music, found in folk traditions across every continent, in blues and rock guitar solos, and in countless melodies from nursery rhymes to pop hits.
Pick a key to hear and see it below. Each key opens a full reference entry with a keyboard diagram, audio, fingerings, and notation.
Featured key
C Major Pentatonic Scale
Notes: C - D - E - G - A
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Open the full C Major Pentatonic Scale reference ›Formula: W–W–WH–W–WH (whole–whole–whole+half–whole–whole+half)
Intervals: P1–M2–M3–P5–M6–P8
Scale degrees: 1–2–3–5–6
Sound: Open, bright, universally pleasant, folk-like
Also known as: The "safe" scale (no note clashes with the underlying key)
Why remove two notes? The 4th and 7th degrees of the major scale form the only half-step intervals. Removing them eliminates all semitone tension, producing a scale where every note sounds consonant against the tonic chord. That is why pentatonic melodies sound instantly singable.
Major Pentatonic Scale in All 18 Keys
All 18 spellings, ♯ and ♭ keys listed separately.
Select any key to see the full scale with notes, fingering, audio, and practice tips.
C Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: C – D – E – G – AC♯ Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: C♯ – D♯ – E♯ – G♯ – A♯D♭ Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: D♭ – E♭ – F – A♭ – B♭D Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: D – E – F♯ – A – BD♯ Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: D♯ – E♯ – F♯♯ – A♯ – B♯E♭ Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: E♭ – F – G – B♭ – CE Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: E – F♯ – G♯ – B – C♯F Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: F – G – A – C – DF♯ Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – C♯ – D♯G♭ Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – D♭ – E♭G Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: G – A – B – D – EG♯ Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: G♯ – A♯ – B♯ – D♯ – E♯A♭ Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: A♭ – B♭ – C – E♭ – FA Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: A – B – C♯ – E – F♯A♯ Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: A♯ – B♯ – C♯♯ – E♯ – F♯♯B♭ Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: B♭ – C – D – F – GB Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: B – C♯ – D♯ – F♯ – G♯C♭ Major Pentatonic ScaleNotes: C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – G♭ – A♭
Want the full theory? Intervals, construction, and how this scale connects to others.Pentatonic & Blues Scales ›