How to Play the A Major Pentatonic Scale on Guitar
- Rodrigo Moreira
- Dec 30, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 14
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Click to jump) |
Greetings, everyone! Rodrigo here again!
In today’s article, I’ll guide you through everything you need to know to learn and start applying the A Major Pentatonic Scale. Plus, I’ll provide a downloadable scale chart for easy reference.
If you’re new to the blog and don’t have much background in music theory, don’t worry! I’ve written a series of 16 articles that cover everything you need—from basic intervals to arpeggios, scales, major and minor keys, and how to create chord progressions (a must for songwriters and composers). You can catch up on those posts by clicking their titles below.
Now, I mention this because understanding today’s content really depends on knowing the basics—intervals, how scales are formed, and the relationship between chords. If you’re not quite there yet, take a look at those posts. I promise they’ll give you the foundation to understand absolutely anything in music.
To my regular readers—thank you so much for the continued support! As always, new articles are coming your way every month, and I’ve got some exciting updates for the store soon. If you haven’t already, bookmark the blog, and feel free to drop a comment below with any topics you’d like me to cover.
Thank you all!
Rodrigo
Simples Intervals -> Compound Intervals -> Triads -> Drop-2 Chords -> Drop-3 Chords -> Shell Chords & Extensions -> Triads & Extensions -> Chord Melody -> Guitar Arpeggios -> Guitar Scales -> Major Keys -> Minor Keys -> Harmonic Minor Keys -> Melodic Minor Keys -> Greek Modes -> Chord Progressions
A MAJOR PENTATONIC SCALE (FORMULA & POSITIONS)
Before we begin, let’s clarify a few points. A pentatonic scale is any scale made up of five different notes, while a major scale includes a major third as its third degree. This means there are many different scales that could be called "major pentatonic." However, the most commonly known and widely used version—the one we’ll focus on in this article—is often referred to as the "major 6th pentatonic."
The formula for the A major pentatonic scale is:
1 2 3 5 6
Where:
"1" refers to the root note, A
"2" refers to the major second, B
"3" refers to the major third, C#
"5" refers to the perfect fifth, E
"6" refers to the major sixth, F#
The notes in the A major pentatonic scale are:
A B C# E F#
Each of these notes forms a different position or starting point on the fretboard when playing the A major pentatonic scale. Take your time to memorize all five positions. Once you master these shapes, you'll be able to apply them to any key, making them a valuable skill to have.
The black circles on the left represent the guitar strings.
The numbers under the fretboard indicate the fret numbers.
The red circles represent the root note (A in this case), while the blue circles represent the other four notes of the scale.
Start the following shape with your middle finger.
Start the following shape with your middle finger.
Start the following shape with your index finger.
Start the following shape with your middle finger.
*Note that I’ve adjusted the fret numbers since the shape crosses over the 12th fret.
Start the following shape with your index finger.
Make sure you've memorized all five positions before moving on to the next topic. Take as much time as necessary to master them.
And if you don't understand scale formulas, please read my articles on simple intervals and guitar scales.
A Major Pentatonic Scale (Downloadable Chart)
Click on the chart to expand and download the A Major Pentatonic Scale Chart or use the link below to download the PDF directly.
How to Practice the A Major Pentatonic Scale (And Actually Sound Good)
This post is a simplified version of my original article on the major pentatonic scale. If you want to dive deeper into exercises, learn how to create your own scale patterns, explore different rhythmic approaches, and uncover the secrets to making a solo sound great, check out my original post: Eb Major Pentatonic for Guitar: Scales, Chords & Pro Tips. And if you're interested in applying these concepts to the minor pentatonic scale, be sure to read C Minor Pentatonic for Guitar: Scales, Chords & Pro Tips.
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