STRINGSCALES

C major pentatonic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, G, A, C, D, E at frets 0, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12

A string: A, C, D, E, G, A at frets 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12

D string: D, E, G, A, C, D at frets 0, 2, 5, 7, 10, 12

G string: G, A, C, D, E, G at frets 0, 2, 5, 7, 9, 12

B string: C, D, E, G, A at frets 1, 3, 5, 8, 10

High E string: E, G, A, C, D, E at frets 0, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12

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C major pentatonic

The major pentatonic strips the major scale down to five notes: root, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th. With no 4th or 7th there are no half steps, so nothing clashes over the underlying chord and everything sounds melodic. That is why it powers country bends, folk melodies and the friendlier side of classic rock soloing, and why it is many players' second scale after the minor pentatonic.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

C

I

D

II

E

III

G

V

A

VI

Same notes, different mode

C major pentatonic uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

D egyptianE malkos ragaG ritusenA minor pentatonic

major pentatonic in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Start from the minor pentatonic box you already know three frets above C: same shape, but treat C as home and the sound turns major.
  • Bend the 2nd (D) up to the 3rd (E) for the classic country and southern rock move.
  • With no 4th or 7th there are no avoid notes: over a C major vamp every tone lands, so focus on phrasing and timing instead of note choice.
  • Connect the five pentatonic boxes two at a time using slides on the G and B strings; that is how players make one scale cover the neck.

How to play C major pentatonic on guitar

Five open strings ring inside C major pentatonic, both E strings sounding the major third and open G the fifth, so almost any lick can end on a ringing open note. Box one anchors at fret 8 on the low E string and the shape ends at fret 12, which means the position shift lands right at the octave marker. Every note is a natural. G and C are the roots most players learn first, and the identical fingering doubles as A minor pentatonic, 9 semitones up.

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