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Guitar scales · Major pentatonic

C major pentatonic scale on guitar

The C major has five notes: C, D, E, G and A. As degrees: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.

Notes and pattern

The C major pentatonic scale

Five notes, no . Country, folk and sweet rock melodies. Play it to hear it up and down.

From note to note it climbs 2, 2, 3, 2 and 3 : there are no , which is why it is so hard to hit a wrong note.

C major has the same notes as A minor pentatonic, starting from C. See that scale.

  1. C1
  2. D2
  3. E3
  4. G5
  5. A6
EADGBE0135791215CCCCCCCCEGADEGADEGADEGADEGADEGADEGADEGADEG
  • C, the root
  • Other scale notes

Positions

C major pentatonic in five positions

The splits the neck into five overlapping positions, one per shape. Learn one, then join it to the next.

C major · the whole neck

Five positions, each overlapping the next, repeating every 12 frets.

CCAAGEDDEADGBE0135791215CCCCCCCCEGADEGADEGADEGADEGADEGADEGADEGADEG
  • Root (C)
  • Pentatonic tone

Chords

What to play C major pentatonic over

Play it over songs in C major or A minor. Over a blues in C (C7, F7 and G7) it gives a sweeter, country sound than the minor .

Same root

Change a note or two and the same takes on a new mood.

Questions

C major pentatonic, in short

What notes are in the C major pentatonic scale?
The C major has five notes: C, D, E, G and A. As degrees: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.
What chords go with the C major pentatonic scale?
Play it over songs in C major or A minor. Over a blues in C (C7, F7 and G7) it gives a sweeter, country sound than the minor pentatonic.
What is the relative minor of C major pentatonic?
C major pentatonic has the same notes as A minor pentatonic, starting from C.
All guitar scales