C major pentatonic scale
C · 5 notes · scale
Five notes with no semitones, so any order sounds right. The basis of folk tunes and guitar solos.
On the keyboard
| Notes | C · D · E · G · A |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 0 · 2 · 4 · 7 · 9 |
| Chord symbol | C |
| Frequency | 261.63 Hz |
How to read this
- The notes come from how many semitones they sit above the root — major is 0·4·7, minor is 0·3·7.
- On the keyboard diagram the filled keys are the notes of the chord, lowest on the left.
- Press play and it sounds the real frequencies. The audio is generated in your browser; nothing is downloaded.
- Note names differ by country: German writes H for B, while Spanish and French say Do, Re, Mi.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What notes are in the C major pentatonic scale?
C · D · E · G · A — 5 notes, sitting 0·2·4·7·9 semitones above the root. On a chart it is written C.
Q. What does the C major pentatonic scale sound like?
Five notes with no semitones, so any order sounds right. The basis of folk tunes and guitar solos.
Q. What is the frequency of the lowest note?
Taking the lowest note in the fourth octave gives 261.63 Hz, in equal temperament with A4 at 440 Hz. An octave up doubles it.
Q. How do I move it to another root?
Keep the semitone spacing (0·2·4·7·9) and shift the root. The list below jumps straight to the same scale on the other eleven roots.
Q. How do I read the keyboard diagram?
The filled keys are the notes. Low notes are on the left, and the black keys carry the sharps and flats. Shapes that use only white keys are the easiest ones to try first.