The major pentatonic scale consists of the root, a major 2nd, a major third, a perfect 5th and a major 6th. All notes of pentatonic major scale can be found in the major scale.
| Scale Tone | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Octave |
| Interval | Root | M2 | M3 | P5 | M6 | Octave |
| C major Pentatonic | C | D | E | G | A | C |
You can use the following fretboard scale patterns below to construct pentatonic scales around the fingerboard.
- Minor Pentatonics (6 Fretboard Diagrams for Guitar and Full Moveable Chart)
- Pentatonic Scales (Fretboard Diagrams, Standard and Tab Notation)
- Major Scale Fretboard Diagrams for Guitar
- Melodic Minor Scales (Shapes, Patterns, Theory)
Table of Contents
Major Pentatonic Guitar Scale Diagrams
The roots of the scales are in the red.
Form 1
Form 2
Form 3
Form 4
Form 5
Form 6
Entire (Moveable) Guitar Fretboard Diagram of Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales
- Major Pentatonic Scale root notes = Star
- Minor Pentatonic root notes = Triangle
- All the other notes = blue/purple squares
- Use the fretboard note locator table (see below) to pick the key of the pentatonic scale.
How to Use the Fretboard Note Table to Find the Key of a Pentatonic Scale on the Fretboard Diagram
- What key for the pentatonic scale?
- For example, say you want to play in a A major pentatonic scale.
- Look for the note A on the table below.
- You find 6th string, 5th fret as one instance of A.
- Look above, to the moveable fretboard pentatonic scale diagram.
- Find a star (the “root” note of the major pentatonic scale) on the 6th string.
- Now orient your scale patterns so that triangle is on the 6th string, 5th fret of your guitar!
- Enjoy!
- Try singing/humming along to help get the notes/melodies of the scales in your ears.
Guitar Fretboard Note Locator Table (up to the 15th fret)
| Fret # | E, 6th String | A, 5th String | D, 4th String | G, 3rd String | B, 2nd String | E, 1st String |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | E | A | D | G | B | E |
| 1 | F | A#/Bb | D#/Eb | G#/Ab | C | F |
| 2 | F#/Gb | B | E | A | C#/Db | F#/Gb |
| 3 | G | C | F | A#/Bb | D | G |
| 4 | G#/Ab | C#/Db | F#/Gb | B | D#/Eb | G#/Ab |
| 5 | A | D | G | C | E | A |
| 6 | A#/Bb | D#/Eb | G#/Ab | C#/Db | F | A#/Bb |
| 7 | B | E | A | D | F#/Gb | B |
| 8 | C | F | A#/Bb | D#/Eb | G | C |
| 9 | C#/Db | F#/Gb | B | E | G#/Ab | C#/Db |
| 10 | D | G | C | F | A | D |
| 11 | D#/Eb | G#/Ab | C#/Db | F#/Gb | A#/Bb | D#/Eb |
| 12 | E | A | D | G | B | E |
| 13 | F | A#/Bb | D#/Eb | G#/Ab | C | F |
| 14 | F#/Gb | B | E | A | C#/Db | F#/Gb |
| 15 | G | C | F | A#/Bb | D | G |
| Frets | E, 6th String | A, 5th String | D, 4th String | G, 3rd String | B, 2nd String | E, 1st String |
Practice Makes Progress!
Hope this helps and all the best!
If you have any questions, comments, ideas and/or suggestions, please send me a message!
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