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Pentatonic Scale – Definition
A pentatonic scale is a musical scale containing five different notes within an octave. It is one of the most widely used scales in music and appears in countless styles around the world.
What is a Pentatonic Scale?
The two most common forms are the major pentatonic scale (1, 2, 3, 5, 6) and the minor pentatonic scale (1, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭7). Because these scales omit the most dissonant intervals found in the major scale, they produce a smooth and naturally consonant sound.
Pentatonic scales are fundamental in blues, rock, country, folk, jazz, pop, and many traditional musical cultures.
How is a Pentatonic Scale used in piano playing?
The pentatonic scale is one of the easiest scales for beginning improvisers. Since its notes fit comfortably over many common chord progressions, pianists can create melodic ideas with relatively little risk of clashing harmonically.
Many teachers introduce improvisation by encouraging students to explore the black keys on the piano, which form a pentatonic scale and provide an intuitive way to develop musical confidence.