Pentatonic Scales

Definition

Pentatonic scales are musical scales that consist of five notes per octave. They are widely used in various genres of music and are known for their simplicity and versatility.

Analogy

Think of a pentatonic scale as a five-piece nugget meal at a fast-food restaurant. Just like the nuggets, pentatonic scales come in a set of five notes that you can use to create tasty melodies!

Related terms

Minor Pentatonic Scale: A minor pentatonic scale is a specific type of pentatonic scale that follows the pattern of root, minor third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, and minor seventh intervals.

Major Pentatonic Scale: A major pentatonic scale is another type of pentatonic scale that follows the pattern of root, major second, major third, perfect fifth, and major sixth intervals.

Blues Scale: The blues scale is a variation of the minor pentatonic scale with an added "blue" note (flattened fifth) that gives it its characteristic bluesy sound.