About the C Major Pentatonic Scale
The C major pentatonic scale is a 5-note scale. Bright and happy sound, great for country and pop. Its notes are C, D, E, G and A, built from the formula 1 2 3 5 6.
- Notes
- C – D – E – G – A
- Formula
- 1 2 3 5 6
- Steps
- W W W+H W W+H (2–2–3–2–3 semitones)
- Root
- C
C Major Pentatonic Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Root |
| 2 | D | Major 2nd |
| 3 | E | Major 3rd |
| 5 | G | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | A | Major 6th |
Where to play the C Major Pentatonic Scale on ukulele
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (G C E A), lowest string first. Root notes (C) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| G4 | 0, 2, 5, 7, 9, 12 |
| C4 | 0, 2, 4, 7, 9, 12 |
| E4 | 0, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 |
| A4 | 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 |
How to practice the major pentatonic scale
- Practice country-style double stops
- Work on hybrid picking patterns
- Try sliding between positions
- Play over major chord progressions
- Mix with minor pentatonic for variety
Scales with the same notes as C Major Pentatonic Scale
These scales share every note with the C major pentatonic scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Major Pentatonic scale in other keys
Other scales in C
- C Minor Pentatonic
- C Mixolydian Pentatonic
- C Natural Minor
- C Major (Ionian)
- C Blues
- C Dorian
- C Mixolydian
- C Phrygian
- C Harmonic Minor
- C Lydian
- C Locrian
- C Diminished (Half-Whole)
- C Diminished (Whole-Half)
- C Whole Tone
- C Augmented (Hexatonic)
- C Altered (Super Locrian)
- C Phrygian Dominant
- C Lydian Dominant
- C Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- C Bebop Dominant
- C Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- C Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)