C Pentatonic Major
Five notes of the major scale that work universally — 1 2 3 5 6. The default scale of folk traditions worldwide.
Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)
What notes are in the C Pentatonic Major scale?
The C Pentatonic Major scale uses the notes C, D, E, G, A (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).
What's the Pentatonic Major scale formula?
The Pentatonic Major scale follows the interval pattern W W W+H W W+H, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on C to get the C Pentatonic Major scale.
What chords work over C Pentatonic Major?
Major pentatonic works over major triads, maj7, and the I / IV / V of any major-key blues. Universal.
How do I finger C Pentatonic Major on Piano?
On piano, scales typically use a 1-2-3 / 1-2-3-4 thumb-under pattern for white-key scales. Black-key scales (F♯, G♭, etc.) shift the thumb-under positions onto white keys for ergonomic clearance. Hanon Exercise No. 1 and Czerny Op. 599 No. 1 work through the canonical pattern.
When would I use the Pentatonic Major scale?
Five notes of the major scale that work universally — 1 2 3 5 6. The default scale of folk traditions worldwide.