Pentatonic scale

"Pente" from Greek means "five" and so:

A pentatonic scale is a scale composed of five notes.

The minor pentatonic scale, for example, is the scale composed of the following intervals between notes: 1 ½, 1, 1, 1 ½, 1 (where 1 is one tone or two semitones). The minor pentatonic scale in A, for example, is composed of the notes A, C, D, E, G.

Modes of the common pentatonic scale

The modes of the common pentatonic scale shown in the example above are:

• Minor pentatonic, with intervals between notes 1 ½, 1, 1, 1 ½, 1 (A, C, D, E, G in the example above).
• Major pentatonic, with intervals between notes 1, 1, 1 ½, 1, 1 ½ (C, D, E, G, A in the example above).
• Egyptian pentatonic (also known as suspended), with intervals 1, 1 ½, 1, 1 ½, 1 (D, E, G, A, C in the example above).
• Blues minor pentatonic (also known as Man gong), with intervals 1 ½, 1, 1 ½, 1, 1 (E, G, A, C, D in the example above).
• Blues major pentatonic (also known as Ritsusen), with intervals 1, 1 ½, 1, 1, 1 ½ (G, A, C, D, E in the example above).

Heptatonic scales that augment the pentatonic modes

The following are the seven note scales that augment the melodies and harmonies on the pentatonic scales above.

• On the minor pentatonic scale: The Aeolian scale (the natural minor scale).
• On the major pentatonic scale: The Ionian scale (the major scale).
• On the Egyptian pentatonic scale: The Dorian scale.
• On the blues minor pentatonic scale: The Phrygian scale.
• On the blues major pentatonic scale: The Lydian scale.

See also:
Scale, Scale (index)