I’m sure there are many threads on this question. Which notes are not in a pentatonic scale

Theory
1

I know there are 7 notes in a regular scale not counting the octave of the root note. Which notes are not played?

2

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th notes are in the major scale. So the 4th and 7th are not in the pentatonic

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3

In minor scales, take away the 2nd and 6th notes…so 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th

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4

@Gadget use this cheat sheet it’s a useful quick guide.

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5

Here’s a nice app for information about scales :slightly_smiling_face:

Probably also available for Apple products.

6

If you forget which notes are removed from the major scale to make the major pentatonic, you can remember that you remove the notes that create half steps:

C Major: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
There’s a half step from E to F, so you remove the F (4). There’s a half step from B to C so you remove the B (7)

The minor uses the same notes as the relative major so you remove the same notes. The minor scale is the same as the major starting on the 6th note
A Major: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, so you remove 2 and 6.

If you start a major scale off your pinky eg C on the 8th fret on the E string, the relative minor scale will start on your index finger ie. A on the 5th fret.