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Scales

A major pentatonic scale

The A major pentatonic scale notes: A – B – C♯ – E – F♯. Five notes with no half steps: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6. Bright and open – country, pop and rock solos love it.

Notes and steps

A1B2C♯3E5F♯6

Steps: W – W – W+H – W – W+H · W = whole step, H = half step

A major pentatonic scale on guitar

Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Filled circles are the root.

A major pentatonic scale on the guitar fretboardEF♯ABC♯EABC♯EF♯AEF♯ABC♯ABC♯EF♯BC♯EF♯ABEF♯ABC♯E357912

A major pentatonic scale on piano

A major pentatonic scale on the piano keyboardEABEABC♯F♯C♯F♯

Other scales from A

The same scale from other notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A major pentatonic scale?

A, B, C♯, E, F♯. Step formula: W–W–W+H–W–W+H (W = whole step, H = half step).

How do I practise it on guitar?

Every circle on the fretboard is a note of the scale up to fret 12; the filled circles mark the root (A). Start in one position (within 4–5 frets), root to root, slowly, with a metronome.

Practise with us

Music tools for practice

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Guitar tunerUses your mic, accurate to the cent – guitar, bass, ukulele, violin.Try it →Chord finderNames any chord from its notes or from a shape.Try it →MetronomeTime signatures, accents, subdivisions and tap tempo.Try it →Chord progression generatorChord progressions in any key, with playback.Try it →Ear trainerIntervals, chords and scales – step by step, like a game.Try it →Online pianoPlay in your browser with mouse, keyboard or MIDI.Try it →

Photos: Isak Photography, 42 North, Rachel Loughman, Vitaly Gariev, Vitaly Gariev, Isaac Martin / Unsplash