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E major pentatonic Scale on Piano

E F♯ G♯ B C♯ W W W+H W W+H 5 notes

Notes and steps

The notes of the E major pentatonic scale

Formula in degrees: 1 2 3 5 6.

E major pentatonic scale: E F♯ G♯ B C♯, steps W W W+H W W+HEBEF♯G♯C♯WWW+HWW+H
E F♯ G♯ B C♯ - 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 E 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 E major pentatonic scale?

Going up: E, F♯, G♯, B, C♯, then E 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 E major pentatonic scale?

Chords whose notes all belong to it: E, Esus2, F♯sus2, F♯sus4, Bsus2, Bsus4, C♯m, C♯m7, C♯sus4.

Play it for real

Hold it, record it, build a song on it

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