The pentatonic scale omits the 4th and 7th degrees of the major scale, creating a five-note, dissonance-free set

The pentatonic scale consists of only 5 notes — in C: C D E G A (omitting F and B). By eliminating the semitone pairs (E-F and B-C), all five notes can be sounded simultaneously without harshness. This makes it the most globally universal scale: found in Celtic folk, blues, jazz improvisation, dance music, children music, gamelan, and music of Japan, China, and Africa. The five notes generate multiple modes by rotating which note is treated as tonic. Added-note chords (add6, add9, add6/9) are built naturally from pentatonic notes.

Examples

C pentatonic: C D E G A. The blues scale adds a passing Eb/blue note. Amazing Grace uses pentatonic.

Assessment

Build the E major pentatonic scale. Explain why any note of a pentatonic scale can be played over a chord in that key without sounding wrong.