Pentatonic Scale
also called “five note scale”
The short version
A five-note scale where it's very hard to play a wrong note.
Take the major scale and remove the two notes that cause clashes. What's left sounds good in almost any order — which is why guitar solos and folk songs everywhere use it.
Scales, up and down
Sing along with the ascending version if you can.
C majorBright and settled.
A minorSame notes as C major, different home.
C major pentatonicFive notes, hard to go wrong.
A minor pentatonicThe blues and rock solo scale.
ChromaticEvery note — the full box.
Why you'd careIt's the best scale to improvise with on day one. Fewer notes, fewer wrong turns.
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