The major pentatonic scale on bass:
notes, formula and position

The major pentatonic scale has 5 notes: 1 2 3 5 6. In A, that gives A, B, C♯, E and F♯. Five notes with no half step: nothing clashes, everything sounds good. It is the color of country, pop and many soul bass lines. It has the same notes as the minor pentatonic of its relative (C major and A minor).

Also called: Major pentatonic, Chinese pentatonic, Gong mode.

Formula and notes

1 2 3 5 6

The steps between the notes, from the root to the octave: whole step – whole step – step and a half – whole step – step and a half. In A:

One position on the neck

The major pentatonic scale in A, in the 5th-fret position: one finger per fret, from the 4th to the 8th fret, on all four strings. The numbers are the degrees; the root is in gold.

The same position as bass tab (fret by fret, from the low E string to the G string):

G|-4--6-|
D|-4--7-|
A|-4--7-|
E|-5--7-|

For another key, move the whole shape: the root on the E string sets the key (3rd fret for G, 8th fret for C).

The sound of the major pentatonic scale

5 notes, no half step. Universal and melodic. Very consonant: perfect for starting improvisation (its major third clashes over a minor chord).

You mostly hear it in country, pop, rock and world music.

Which chords to play it over

In A, the major pentatonic scale fits Amaj7, A6 and Aadd9. On bass, keep the root on the strong beats and use the other notes to connect the chords.

Neighbouring scales

These scales differ from the major pentatonic scale by a single note. Comparing them lets you hear exactly what that note brings.

• The dominant pentatonic scale: ♭7 instead of 6.
• The Kumoi scale: ♭3 instead of 3.
• The Yo scale: 4 instead of 3.

Practice it with UnitBasse

This diagram shows a single position, in a single key. In UnitBasse, this scale is shown across the whole neck and in all twelve keys, as note names, intervals or degrees, with one color per degree. You can listen to it, see the chords that go with it, switch keys in one click, and play it over a chord chart with BackTrack, the app’s backing band. The app has 69 scales in 12 families.

Frequently asked questions