C Pentatonic Scale

C major pentatonic takes notes 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 from C major. It leaves out F and B. C minor pentatonic takes 1, flat 3, 4, 5 and flat 7 from C natural minor. It leaves out D and A flat.

The two versions share C and G. Change E to E flat and you change the third above C; that is a useful first clue to the major or minor color. The remaining notes also change, so do not describe the minor version as the major version with only one key moved.

C major pentatonic includes C-E-G, all three notes of a C-major chord. C minor pentatonic includes C-E flat-G, all three notes of C minor. Begin a phrase with the chord tones, then add one of the other two pentatonic notes.

In blues, C minor pentatonic can also be played over a C7 chord. The scale's E flat and the chord's E natural create a deliberate rub. Listen to the accompaniment instead of assuming every scale note is equally restful.

Neither version has a half-step gap between neighboring scale notes. C major pentatonic moves C-D-E, then skips to G-A. C minor pentatonic moves C-E flat-F-G, then skips to B flat. The gaps give you room to shape a phrase without running up all seven notes of a major or minor scale.

Try C-D-E-G, pause, then A-G-E-C. Answer it with C-E flat-F-G, pause, then B flat-G-E flat-C. Use the same rhythm for both and listen to the note changes. For the general formulas, continue to Pentatonic and Blues Scales.