Skip to content

A major pentatonic Scale on Piano

A B C♯ E F♯ W W W+H W W+H 5 notes

Notes and steps

The notes of the A major pentatonic scale

Formula in degrees: 1 2 3 5 6.

A major pentatonic scale: A B C♯ E F♯, steps W W W+H W W+HABEAC♯F♯WWW+HWW+H
A B C♯ E F♯ - the arcs give each step: W a whole step (two half steps), H a half step.
Fingering

How to finger it

With 5 notes per octave, play it in groups: thumb on the lowest white key of each group, then cross over. Slow and even beats fast and uneven: play it with the metronome at 60 before speeding up.

Harmony

Chords that fit the A major pentatonic scale

Every chord built on a note of the scale whose notes all belong to it - the chords to accompany a melody in it.

Questions

Frequently asked

What notes are in the A major pentatonic scale?

Going up: A, B, C♯, E, F♯, then A again.

What is the formula of the major pentatonic scale?

In whole (W) and half (H) steps: W W W+H W W+H. In degrees: 1 2 3 5 6.

Which chords go with the A major pentatonic scale?

Chords whose notes all belong to it: A, Asus2, Bsus2, Bsus4, Esus2, Esus4, F♯m, F♯m7, F♯sus4.

Play it for real

Hold it, record it, build a song on it

The GOONS piano studio has up to 88 keys, real piano samples, MIDI keyboard support, chord pads in any key and a sequencer. It comes with the GOONS Studio subscription - start with the 7-day free trial, no card required.