Pentatonic Scales

What is Pentatonic?

'Penta' means five. A Pentatonic scale extracts 5 distinct notes from the Major or Minor scale, removing the most dissonant intervals.

Major Pentatonic

The Major Pentatonic scale uses degrees 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. It has a pure, open, and folk-like quality suitable for many melodies. One easy way to find a Pentatonic scale is the "Black Keys" trick.

Minor Pentatonic

The Minor Pentatonic uses degrees 1, b3, 4, 5, and b7. It is the backbone of rock, blues, and pop solos. Because it lacks the dissonant intervals, it is very hard to play a 'wrong' note.

Composition Insight

Pentatonic scales are universal across cultures because they eliminate the notes that clash and create extreme tension (like the highly dissonant interval called the tritone), making them incredibly stable and melodic. Use them when you want melodies that are instantly accessible, memorable, and nearly impossible to play "wrong." They're perfect for solos, hooks, and cross-cultural musical expressions.

You removed the 4th (F) and 7th (B) degrees. These are the notes that clash the most and create extreme tension (a dissonant interval called the tritone). Removing them leaves a perfectly stable and melodic 5-note scale.

Click on the orange notes to remove them.

Hint: We want to get rid of the tension-builders (Degrees 4 and 7) to find the Pentatonic.

The Black Keys Trick

Try playing only the black keys on any piano.

Solo Grid

Hit "Play Beat" and then tap any buttons. Because it's Minor Pentatonic, every note works comfortably over the groove. No bad notes!