The Pentatonic Scales
At first, we started with a 12-Note musical alphabet. There was very little shape to that scale as it consisted entirely of half steps. Then we created our 7-Note Major and Minor scales by using whole steps to skip over certain notes. The extra space helped create shades and colors that our ears could identify.
Next, we will expand on this concept by skipping over a couple more notes to create the 5-Note Pentatonic Scale. This is one of the most common scales to use for playing solos/lead parts or even vocal melodies and is used heavily in Blues, Rock, Jazz, Soul, Country, and anything in between. For most musicians, the Pentatonic scales are the first scales we learn to improvise and solo with.
The Major and Minor scales have certain intervals which consist of a half step.
The Major scales has half steps between the notes 3 and 4, and also between 7 and 1.(Graphic)
Likewise, the minor scale has half steps between 2 and b3, and also between 5 and b6.
(Graphi
What the Pentatonic scales do is cut out one note of each pair so there are NO half steps! The wider intervals create a more versatile sound that works over many different chords, chord progressions, and styles.
To eliminate the half steps in the Major Scale we have to cut out either the 3 or the 4, and the 3 is a MUCH more important note in any scale or chord than a 4. The other pair was the 7 or the 1(Root), and obviously, the Root is a far more important note.
So, the Major Pentatonic is the Major Scale with no 4 or 7.
For the Minor scale, our first half step pair is between 2 and b3, and again, the 3rd is an extremely important not whether is major or minor so the b3 stays, the 2 is cut. The second half step pair is between 5 and b6. The 5 is the more important note, so we keep 5 and cut b6.
The Minor Pentatonic is the Minor Scale with no 2 or 6.
It’s definitely worth noticing that because we’re starting with major and minor scales, the Major Pentatonic is WITHIN the Major Scale, and the Minor Pentatonic is WITHIN the Minor Scale.