C major pentatonic
A five-note scale built on C: root, second, major third, fifth and sixth. A bright, happy sound you’ll hear all over country, folk and pop.
- Notes:
- C, D, E, G, A.
- Formula:
- 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.
- Style:
- Country, folk, pop, rock.
- Difficulty:
- Beginner.
On the neck
Every note of the scale on the neck (choose 12, 15 or 19 frets). Click to listen.
High E at the top, just like in tab.Neck seen from the front, headstock at the top: low E on the left, just like a chord diagram.
Play the scale notes over it. Open in the Studio
Chords that go with it
The chords built on the notes of the scale: improvise with this scale over any progression that uses them.
Progressions to use it on
Loop the first one and improvise over it:
All 5 positions
Each position covers all six strings, with two notes per string. Position 1 starts on the root, on the 6th string.
Position 1: frets 7 to 10
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------8-10-| B|--------------------8-10------| G|----------------7-9-----------| D|-----------7-10---------------| A|------7-10--------------------| E|-8-10-------------------------|
Position 2: frets 9 to 13
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|------------------------------10-12-| B|------------------------10-13-------| G|-------------------9-12-------------| D|-------------10-12------------------| A|-------10-12------------------------| E|-10-12------------------------------|
Position 3: frets 0 to 3
It also works an octave higher, frets 12 to 15.
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|---------------------0-3-| B|-----------------1-3-----| G|-------------0-2---------| D|---------0-2-------------| A|-----0-3-----------------| E|-0-3---------------------|
Position 4: frets 2 to 5
It also works an octave higher, frets 14 to 17.
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|---------------------3-5-| B|-----------------3-5-----| G|-------------2-5---------| D|---------2-5-------------| A|-----3-5-----------------| E|-3-5---------------------|
Position 5: frets 5 to 8
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|---------------------5-8-| B|-----------------5-8-----| G|-------------5-7---------| D|---------5-7-------------| A|-----5-7-----------------| E|-5-8---------------------|