Modal Scales (Pentatonic)

Modal Scales – The Pentatonic Scale

The pentatonic scale is one of the oldest scales and has been used in much traditional and folk music around the world from Scotland to China. It also appears in rock, blues and gospel music.

The scale here (right) is The Pentatonic on ‘C’ and is comprised of the notes – C-D-E-G-A-(C)

If you play the black keys on the piano F#, G#, A#, C# and D#, (right) then you have played a Pentatonic scale. (take away the sharps# and you have the major pentatonic scale of ‘F’)

3 Pentatonic scales

The pentatonic scale has 5 notes but we will include the upper octave when writing it out in exams.

Listen to C Pentatonic

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Listen to G Pentatonic

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Listen to F Pentatonic

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Now watch the Video The videos below are well worth a look at for further clarification and the 2nd video (thumbnail) deals with the Blues Scale