C major pentatonic scale on mandolin
The C major pentatonic scale has five notes: C, D, E, G and A (1 2 3 5 6). The major scale without its 4th and 7th: sweet and open. Country, pop and Southern rock solos live here; its boxes are the minor pentatonic's, moved down three frets.
| Note | C | D | E | G | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Step to the next | whole | whole | 1½ | whole | 1½ |
5 positions to learn it in
The C major pentatonic scale is learnt in five boxes, each two notes a string under the hand, joined end to end up the neck. Start with box 1 and learn one at a time; together they cover the whole fretboard. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the C major pentatonic scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; C (C) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (C) | Chome | – |
| 2 (D) | Dsus4the lift | – |
| 5 (G) | Gsus4the pull | – |
| 6 (A) | Amthe shadow | Am7the shadow |
Scales with the same notes
Its relative minor pentatonic is the A minor pentatonic scale: the same notes, started from A.
Questions
What notes are in the C major pentatonic scale?
C, D, E, G and A. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 3 5 6, and the steps between its notes are W W W+H W W+H (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the C major pentatonic scale?
The chords made only of its notes: C, Dsus4, Gsus4 and Am, and as seventh chords Am7. C is home: C is the chord it sounds most settled over.
What is the relative minor pentatonic of the C major pentatonic scale?
The A minor pentatonic scale, which has the same notes started from A.
The major pentatonic scale in every key
Other scales in C
C majorC minorC minor pentatonicC bluesC DorianC MixolydianC LydianC PhrygianC harmonic minorC melodic minorC Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: mandolin scales. This scale on guitar, bass, ukulele and banjo.