What is the Pentatonic Scale? - Music Theory

We explore the Pentatonic scale. As the title suggests the scale comprises 5 notes instead of the 7 notes that make up the major scale and the minor scale. This music theory lesson looks at the different ways of calculating the notes needed in a pentatonic scale then considers the makeup of the major pentatonic and the minor pentatonic scale. Included in the video are ideas for composing and improvising using the pentatonic scale, making this video a great resource for performers and composers alike.

🕘 Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction to what is the pentatonic scale?
0:14 - Heptatonic and pentatonic scales
1:28 - A famous melody using a pentatonic scale
2:28 - A little bit of history
4:18 - The major pentatonic scale
9:55 - Improvising with the pentatonic scale
11:34 - The minor pentatonic scale
13:16 - Relationships between major and minor scales
16:32 - Thoughts for guitarists
17:02 - Conclusion

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[MusicMattersGB]

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[annetteenchelmaier]

I’m a recently retired Primary School Music Teacher in Australia. I taught every class in the school once a week. We sang lots of simple songs and games. As the children internalised the songs I would help them feel the beat and rhythm and identify intervals such as Major Seconds and minor thirds. I used the Pentaonic Scale extensively, also using solfege with a moving doh. This was a very fulfilling career as I saw children from five to twelve years of age develop in their music skills and understanding as they moved through the school.

[jayducharme]

Excellent explanation, thank you! When I was a kid, I used to improvise all the time using only the black keys, never aware that I was using a pentatonic scale. Now it makes sense.

[ramonacosta]

I think of them as the major or natural minor scales with the two notes forming the tritone removed. The harmonic minor case is interesting because it has two tritones so it would have two variants, depending on which tritone you remove. Both variants sound interesting.

[carlosrelampago]

The way you teach is perfectly amazing. Thank you for your Work Sir.🙏🙏🙏🙏🤘🤘

[NomeDeArte]

Thank you, not only for the knowledge but for the mind set too. Best wishes from Argentina and have a great 2023!

[arnieus]

An amazing documentary called “Cave of Forgotten Dreams” was filmed inside of the famous Chauvet cave in France. This 30, 000 year old cave was found in pristine condition having been protected by being buried by a land slide an unimaginably long time ago.

During the film a flute carved from a bone was recovered. The notes playable on the flute was a perfect pentatonic scale. The archeologist played the Star Spangled Banner on it. Every time you hear somebody playing the blues or rock you are hearing a pentatonic scale which is a major scale minus the 4th and 7th. Clearly this arrangement of pitches has resonated with humans for a long, long time and still does.

[MartinMcAvoy]

Than you very much for posting this video. The more that I listen to music, the more I want to understand the rules that composers use to enable them to express their art.

[lawrencetaylor]

I talked with my daughter today about music theory, and I wish I had a teacher like you 60 years ago.

[janinerogers]

Thanks for this Gareth! Have you ever done a video on the hemitonic varieties of pentatonic scales? After watching this I've gone down a bit of a rabbit hole reading about them and from what I can see it looks like there are several Japanese scales that fit the description. Would love to hear your thoughts on them anyway (I'm working my way through all your videos!)

[karakataka]

Great thing you’r doing! Please continue!!!

[carlstenger]

Excellent video. As a young child, I was lucky enough to live in a home with a piano. For whatever reason, I was fascinated by the black keys and began "plunking" (my dad's word) every chance I got. 63 years later, I still can't walk past a piano without "plunking" a bit.

[SandeshBhurtel]

I've been loving music theory with your lessons. Thanks for the video.

[stefanodigarbo]

Back in the days of my theoretical studies I was taught a pentatonic scale would build out of three tones and two minor thirds in whatever sequence. I guess that was a simplification to avoid differentiating between major and minor. To be honest, Gareth, I haven't quite grasped the meaning of hemitonic and anhemitonic: how can you have semitones in a pentatonic scale? Can you make an example please? Thanks and Happy New Year!

[voorth]

"In a Sentimental Mood" would have been a great example for a tune starting with the major pentatonic...

[paularhewe]

Thanks for the smooth and easy to learn teaching.❤

[jc-rghy]

Nice explanation take out the 4th note and 7th. I like this simple way. Cheers

[i_teleported_bread]

How would one write chords in a pentatonic scale? Is it like the diatonic scales, where one uses the third and fifth intervals above the root note, or are chords in the pentatonic scale built differently?

[PerkyPL]

You Sir, answered all of my questions on the topic! thank You

[psmurali]

Namaskaar sir.Very interesting to learn about Pentatonix scales.Nicely explained .Thank you sir