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A Major pentatonic scale A · B · C# · E · F#
A major pentatonic contains the notes A, B, C#, E, F#. Its intervals from the root are 0, 2, 4, 7, 9 semitones.
Root A
Quality major pentatonic
Notes 5
Intervals 0 · 2 · 4 · 7 · 9 Notes and intervals Intervals are measured from A. The step to the next tone shows the scale’s spacing; the final step returns to the root one octave higher.
FREE FRETBOARD REFERENCE
A Major pentatonic on the fretboard Find each scale tone in a catalog tuning. Filled notes marked R are roots; outlined notes are other tones. Open strings are fret 0.
Root noteC C# D Eb E F F# G Ab A Bb B ScaleIonian (Major) Dorian Phrygian Lydian Mixolydian Aeolian (Natural Minor) Locrian Natural Minor Harmonic Minor Melodic Minor Dorian b2 (Phrygian #6) Lydian Augmented Lydian Dominant (Lydian b7) Mixolydian b6 (Hindu) Locrian Natural 2 (Half-Diminished) Super Locrian (Altered) Locrian Natural 6 Ionian Augmented Romanian Minor (Dorian #4) Phrygian Dominant Lydian #2 Ultra Locrian Harmonic Major Dorian b5 Phrygian b4 Lydian b3 Mixolydian b2 Lydian Augmented #2 Locrian bb7 Major Pentatonic Minor Pentatonic Egyptian Pentatonic Blues Minor Pentatonic Neutral Pentatonic Blues Scale Major Blues Scale Bebop Dominant Bebop Major Bebop Minor Bebop Melodic Minor Messiaen Mode 2 Messiaen Mode 3 Messiaen Mode 4 Messiaen Mode 6 Whole Tone Whole-Half Diminished (Octatonic) Half-Whole Diminished (Dominant) Augmented (Hexatonic) Tritone Hungarian Minor (Gypsy) Hungarian Major Double Harmonic (Byzantine) Persian Arabic (Maqam Hijaz) Jewish (Ahava Rabbah) Spanish 8-Tone In Sen Hirajoshi Iwato Kumoi Pelog Bhairav Purvi Marwa Todi Chromatic Instrument6-String Guitar 7-String Guitar 8-String Guitar 9-String Guitar 12-String Guitar 4-String Bass 5-String Bass 6-String Bass Banjo (5-String) Mandolin Ukulele (Soprano) Ukulele (Baritone) TuningStandard (E A D G B E) Drop D (D A D G B E) Half Step Down (D# G# C# F# A# D#) D Standard (D G C F A D) Drop C (C G C F A D) Drop C# (C# G# C# F# A# D#) Drop B (B F# B E G# C#) Open G (D G D G B D) Open D (D A D F# A D) DADGAD (D A D G A D) Open E (E B E G# B E) Open A (E A E A C# E) Nashville (E A D G B E) Notes per stringAll scale notes 1 note per string 2 notes per string 3 notes per string 4 notes per string Starting fret0 · Open position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 LabelsNotes Semitones from root
6-String Guitar · Standard · Frets 0–12 · All scale tones
A Major pentatonic in Standard on 6-String Guitar Physical string order is preserved, with the first catalog string at the bottom. Read exact frets and pitches in the table below. Roots carry an R marker. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4 String 1, fret 0: E2 E String 1, fret 2: F#2 F# String 1, fret 5: A2, root A R String 1, fret 7: B2 B String 1, fret 9: C#3 C# String 1, fret 12: E3 E String 2, fret 0: A2, root A R String 2, fret 2: B2 B String 2, fret 4: C#3 C# String 2, fret 7: E3 E String 2, fret 9: F#3 F# String 2, fret 12: A3, root A R String 3, fret 2: E3 E String 3, fret 4: F#3 F# String 3, fret 7: A3, root A R String 3, fret 9: B3 B String 3, fret 11: C#4 C# String 4, fret 2: A3, root A R String 4, fret 4: B3 B String 4, fret 6: C#4 C# String 4, fret 9: E4 E String 4, fret 11: F#4 F# String 5, fret 0: B3 B String 5, fret 2: C#4 C# String 5, fret 5: E4 E String 5, fret 7: F#4 F# String 5, fret 10: A4, root A R String 5, fret 12: B4 B String 6, fret 0: E4 E String 6, fret 2: F#4 F# String 6, fret 5: A4, root A R String 6, fret 7: B4 B String 6, fret 9: C#5 C# String 6, fret 12: E5 E
Notes-per-string views select the first matching scale tones on each string at or above the starting fret, within a 12-fret window. These are position studies: crossing strings can repeat or skip pitches. They are not guaranteed continuous ascending runs or finger assignments. Four-note layouts can require stretches or position shifts.
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