Skip to content
7-day free trial

C major pentatonic Scale on Piano

C D E G A W W W+H W W+H 5 notes

Notes and steps

The notes of the C major pentatonic scale

Formula in degrees: 1 2 3 5 6.

C major pentatonic scale: C D E G A, steps W W W+H W W+HCDEGACWWW+HWW+H
C D E G A - 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 C 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.

Same tonic

Other scales on C

Learn and practise

Questions

Frequently asked

What notes are in the C major pentatonic scale?

Going up: C, D, E, G, A, then C 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 C major pentatonic scale?

Chords whose notes all belong to it: C, Csus2, Dsus2, Dsus4, Gsus2, Gsus4, Am, Am7, Asus4.

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.

Start the 7-day free trial Open C major pentatonic in the studio