Pentatonic Scales

The Pentatonic, whether Major, Minor or one of the exotic fingerings, is one of the most widely used
scales in modern music, and its usually the first or second scale that most guitarists learn when they
venture into the realm of soloing. Each Pentatonic Scale has its own unique sound and tonal quality,
but they are both very closely related in their fingerings and their make-up.

Major Pentatonic Scales

One of the most often used scales in Rock, Country, Jazz and to a certain extent Blues, the Major
Pentatonic scale is very closely related to its cousin, the Major Blues Scale, with only one note
difference between them. The Major Pentatonic Scale has 5 notes, and they are arranged as such.

Root M2nd M3rd P5th M6th

So, for example, a C Major Pentatonic Scale would be spelled with the following notes:

CDEGA

Because the Major Pentatonic Scale doesnt have a 7th in it, you can use it to solo over a Major 7th
Chord, but also a Dominant 7th Chord, as the 6th over a Major chord produces a M6 sound and over a
Dominant chord produces a 7(13) sound, both very cool colors to add to your solos.

The following Major Pentatonic Scales are written out in the key of C, but make sure you practice
them in all keys so you have them at your fingertips no matter what key youre soloing in. As well,
youll find the stock fingerings for these scales in tons of books and on countless websites, so Ive
decided to give you a different perspective on these scales, laying them out in one octave fingerings,
and then combining those fingerings to produce two octave scales.

Major Pentatonic Scales One Octave

Major Pentatonic Scales Two Octave

Minor Pentatonic Scales

One of the most often used scales in Rock, Country, Jazz and Blues, the Minor Pentatonic scale is very
closely related to its cousin, the Minor Blues Scale, with only one note difference between them. The
Minor Pentatonic Scale has 5 notes, and they are arranged as such.

Root m3rd P4th P5th m7th

So, for example, a C Minor Pentatonic Scale would be spelled with the following notes:

C Eb F G Bb

Because the Minor Pentatonic Scale is so versatile, it can be used to solo over a Major 7th Chord,
Dominant 7th Chord or Minor 7th Chord, it can also be used over any chord in a Blues progression, so
if youre soloing over an A Blues song, you can use the A Blues Scale to play over all of the chords in
the progression.

The following Minor Pentatonic Scales are written out in the key of C, but make sure you practice
them in all keys so you have them at your fingertips no matter what key youre soloing in. As well,
youll find the stock fingerings for these scales in tons of books and on countless websites, so Ive
decided to give you a different perspective on these scales, laying them out in one octave fingerings,
and then combining those fingerings to produce two octave scales.

Minor Pentatonic Scales One Octave

Minor Pentatonic Scales Two Octave

Mixolydian Pentatonic Scale

Though it is not as well known or regularly used as its cousins the Minor Pentatonic and Major
Pentatonic Scales, the Mixolydian Pentatonic scale is very closely related to its relative 7-note scale,
the Mixolydian Mode. The Mixolydian Pentatonic Scale has 5 notes, and they are arranged as such.

Root M2nd M3rd P5th m7th

So, for example, a C Mixolydian Pentatonic Scale would be spelled with the following notes:

C D E G Bb

Because the Mixolydian Pentatonic Scale is similar to the Mixolydian Mode, it can be used in the same
way as the 7-note scale, to solo over a Dominant 7th chord.

The following Mixolydian Pentatonic Scales are written out in the key of C, but make sure you practice
them in all keys so you have them at your fingertips no matter what key youre soloing in. As well,
youll find the stock fingerings for these scales in tons of books and on countless websites, so Ive
decided to give you a different perspective on these scales, laying them out in one octave fingerings,
and then combining those fingerings to produce two octave scales.

Mixolydian Pentatonic Scales One Octave

Mixolydian Pentatonic Scales Two Octave

Dorian Pentatonic Scale

Though it is not as well known or regularly used as its cousins the Minor Pentatonic and Major
Pentatonic Scales, the Dorian Pentatonic scale is very closely related to its relative 7-note scale, the
Dorian Mode. The Dorian Pentatonic Scale has 5 notes, and they are arranged as such.

Root M2nd m3rd P5th M6th

So, for example, a C Dorian Pentatonic Scale would be spelled with the following notes:

C D Eb G A

Because the Dorian Pentatonic Scale is similar to the Dorian Mode, it can be used in the same way as
the 7-note scale, to solo over a Minor 7th chord.

The following Dorian Pentatonic Scales are written out in the key of C, but make sure you practice
them in all keys so you have them at your fingertips no matter what key youre soloing in. As well,
youll find the stock fingerings for these scales in tons of books and on countless websites, so Ive
decided to give you a different perspective on these scales, laying them out in one octave fingerings,
and then combining those fingerings to produce two octave scales.

Dorian Pentatonic Scales One Octave

Dorian Pentatonic Scales Two Octave

Min Maj 7 Pentatonic Scale

Though it is not as well known or regularly used as its cousins the Minor Pentatonic and Major
Pentatonic Scales, the Min Maj 7 Pentatonic scale is very closely related to its relative 7-note scale,
the Melodic Minor Scale. The Min Maj 7 Pentatonic Scale has 5 notes, and they are arranged as such.

Root M2nd m3rd P5th M7th

So, for example, a C Min Maj 7 Pentatonic Scale would be spelled with the following notes:

C D Eb G B

Because the Min Maj 7 Pentatonic Scale is similar to the Melodic Minor Scale, it can be used in the
same way as the 7-note scale, to solo over a Minor Major 7th chord.

The following Min Maj 7 Pentatonic Scales are written out in the key of C, but make sure you practice
them in all keys so you have them at your fingertips no matter what key youre soloing in. As well,
youll find the stock fingerings for these scales in tons of books and on countless websites, so Ive
decided to give you a different perspective on these scales, laying them out in one octave fingerings,
and then combining those fingerings to produce two octave scales.

Min Maj 7 Pentatonic Scales One Octave

Min Maj 7 Pentatonic Scales Two Octave

Pentatonic b9 Scale

Though it is not as well known or regularly used as its cousins the Minor Pentatonic and Major
Pentatonic Scales, the b9 Pentatonic scale is very closely related to its relative 7-note scale, the
Mixolydian b2 Scale. The b9 Pentatonic Scale has 5 notes, and they are arranged as such.

Root m2nd M3rd P5th m7th

So, for example, a C b9 Pentatonic Scale would be spelled with the following notes:

C Db E G Bb

Because the b9 Pentatonic Scale is similar to the Mixolydian b2 Scale, it can be used in the same way
as the 7-note scale, to solo over a Dominant 7th chord.

The following b9 Pentatonic Scales are written out in the key of C, but make sure you practice them in
all keys so you have them at your fingertips no matter what key youre soloing in. As well, youll find
the stock fingerings for these scales in tons of books and on countless websites, so Ive decided to give
you a different perspective on these scales, laying them out in one octave fingerings, and then
combining those fingerings to produce two octave scales.

b9 Pentatonic Scales One Octave

b9 Pentatonic Scales Two Octave

Pentatonic b13 Scale

Though it is not as well known or regularly used as its cousins the Minor Pentatonic and Major
Pentatonic Scales, the b13 Pentatonic scale is very closely related to its relative 7-note scale, the
Mixolydian b6 Scale. The b13 Pentatonic Scale has 5 notes, and they are arranged as such.

Root M2nd M3rd P5th m6th

So, for example, a C b13 Pentatonic Scale would be spelled with the following notes:

C D E G Ab

Because the b13 Pentatonic Scale is similar to the Mixolydian b6 Scale, it can be used in the same way
as the 7-note scale, to solo over a Dominant 7th chord.

The following b13 Pentatonic Scales are written out in the key of C, but make sure you practice them
in all keys so you have them at your fingertips no matter what key youre soloing in. As well, youll
find the stock fingerings for these scales in tons of books and on countless websites, so Ive decided to
give you a different perspective on these scales, laying them out in one octave fingerings, and then
combining those fingerings to produce two octave scales.

b13 Pentatonic Scales One Octave

b13 Pentatonic Scales Two Octave