Pentatonic scale
A five-note scale, most commonly the major and minor pentatonics formed by removing two notes from the corresponding seven-note scales.
The pentatonic scale is the most widely used melodic material in guitar playing because it has no semitone clashes and fits under the fingers in a few moveable shapes. The minor pentatonic is the backbone of blues and rock soloing, and the major pentatonic is the foundation of country and folk lines; the two share the same shape three frets apart. Because it omits the notes that create the strongest tension, the pentatonic is forgiving, which is both why beginners find it easy and why reliance on it can sound generic.
Example: A minor pentatonic contains A, C, D, E and G, the five notes behind most blues and rock lead playing.
See also
Related
- PageBlues scale
- PageMajor scale
- PageScale degree
- PageAugmented chord
- PageBlue note
- PageBorrowed chord
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley