Chords in C Major Pentatonic Scale

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The major pentatonic is the sound of country, folk, and feel-good pop — its five notes omit the dissonant 4th and 7th degrees, making nearly every combination sound consonant. Think "My Girl" by The Temptations or "Sweet Home Alabama." The five derived chords are universally pleasing and almost impossible to combine badly.

Transpose to any key, progressions & circle of fifths

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Formula

W-W-W+H-W-W+H

Semitones: 2-2-3-2-3

Key Signature

No sharps or flats

Explore

Major Pentatonic Scale in the glossary Key Explorer tool Browse all C chords Chord Flashcards Ear Training Metronome

Characteristic Sound

Omitting the 4th and 7th from the major scale removes all half-step dissonance, leaving only consonant intervals. The major 3rd and major 6th give it a sweet, open sound — nearly any note combination works, making it universally pleasing.

Key intervals:3rd6th

Mode Family

Pentatonic & Blues

Simplified 5- and 6-note scales essential for rock, blues, and improvisation.

Major Pentatonic Scale
Minor Pentatonic Scale
Blues Scale

Notes:

CDEGA

Scales with similar note sets — useful for exploring substitutions and modal interchange.

Parent scaleMajor Scale (Ionian)SupersetLydian Mode SupersetMixolydian Mode 2 notes differentMelodic Minor Scale 2 notes differentDorian Mode

Chromatic Mediant Relationships

Chords a third away from the root — not diatonic to this scale. Common in film scoring and jazz.

m3 ↑

EbEb Ebm

M3 ↓

AbAb Abm

Major Pentatonic Scale scale FAQ

What chords are in C Major Pentatonic Scale?

The diatonic chords in C Major Pentatonic Scale are: C, Dm, Em, Gm, Am. These are the chords built naturally from each degree of the scale.

What is the Major Pentatonic Scale?

The major pentatonic is a five-note scale that omits the 4th and 7th degrees of the major scale. Its universally pleasing sound makes it the most widely used scale in country, folk, pop, and traditional music worldwide.

What notes are in the C Major Pentatonic Scale?

The C Major Pentatonic Scale contains the notes: C, D, E, G, A. This is a 5-note scale starting from C.

How many chords does the C Major Pentatonic Scale have?

The C Major Pentatonic Scale produces 5 diatonic chords, one built on each degree of the scale: C, Dm, Em, Gm, Am.

What is the formula for the Major Pentatonic Scale?

The Major Pentatonic Scale follows the interval formula: W-W-W+H-W-W+H (W = whole step, H = half step).