C

Pentatonic Scale

C Major Pentatonic

5-note major scale without 4th or 7th. Universal, tension-free, folk and pop.

Notes in C Major Pentatonic

C1
D2
E3
G4
A5
C8

Chords in C Major Pentatonic

5 diatonic chords
DegreeChordNotesQuality
iC?C – E – A—
iiD?D – G – C—
iiiE?E – A – D—
ivG?G – C – E—
vA?A – D – G—

Other Scales in C

MajorC, D, E, F, G, A, BNatural MinorC, D, D#, F, G, G#, A#Harmonic MinorC, D, D#, F, G, G#, BMelodic MinorC, D, D#, F, G, A, BDorianC, D, D#, F, G, A, A#PhrygianC, C#, D#, F, G, G#, A#LydianC, D, E, F#, G, A, BMixolydianC, D, E, F, G, A, A#LocrianC, C#, D#, F, F#, G#, A#Minor PentatonicC, D#, F, G, A#BluesC, D#, F, F#, G, A#Whole ToneC, D, E, F#, G#, A#Diminished (H-W)C, C#, D#, E, F#, G, A, A#Diminished (W-H)C, D, D#, F, F#, G#, A, BPhrygian DominantC, C#, E, F, G, G#, A#Hungarian MinorC, D, D#, F#, G, G#, BLydian DominantC, D, E, F#, G, A, A#

Major Pentatonic in All 12 Keys

CC D E G AC#D♭Db Eb F Ab BbDD E F# A BD#E♭Eb F G Bb CEE F# G# B C#FF G A C DF#G♭F# G# A# C# D#GG A B D EG#A♭Ab Bb C Eb FAA B C# E F#A#B♭Bb C D F GBB C# D# F# G#

Practice by Ear

Scale RecognitionIdentify the Major Pentatonic scale by ear →Play C Major PentatonicHear the scale and practice recognising it →Chord Recognition TrainerIdentify the chords above by ear →Progression TrainerIdentify common progressions in this key →

Chords in C Major Pentatonic

The C major pentatonic scale contains the notes C, D, E, G, A. 5-note major scale without 4th or 7th. Universal, tension-free, folk and pop.

The diatonic chords in C major pentatonic are C? (i), D? (ii), E? (iii), G? (iv), A? (v). These are the chords you can use when writing or improvising in this key — every note in each chord belongs to the C major pentatonic scale.

To develop your ear for the C major pentatonic sound, use the scale and chord trainers linked above. Being able to recognise these sounds by ear — not just read them from a chart — is what separates musicians who truly hear music from those who only read it.