Why the pentatonic scale is perfect for beginners explains the benefits of learning scales with five notes first.
The pentatonic scale is perfect for beginners because there are fewer notes to learn, 5 instead of 7, and these 5 notes serve both major and minor keys. “Penta”, meaning 5 in Latin, indicates that 5 notes comprise the pentatonic scale.
Learning one pentatonic scale serves two different keys.
But how do you know which 5 notes to use?
There are no 2nd and 6th intervals in the minor version of the pentatonic scale.
There are no 4th and 7th intervals in the major version of the pentatonic scale.
For the key of C major, we have five notes: C, D, E, G, A. The relative minor of C major is A minor. These keys are related because they share the same key signature – no sharps or flats. That’s how we define “relative” keys. This is why the pentatonic scale is perfect for beginners
For the key of A minor we have five notes also: A, C, D, E, G. Notice they are the same notes, starting on A, not C, as in C major.
We have five notes for the key of D major: D, E, F#, A, B, omitting the 4th and 7th intervals.
For the key of B minor, we have five notes also: B, D, E, F#, A, omitting the 2nd and 6th intervals. It shares two sharps with D major – F# and C#.
We have five notes for the key of E major: E, F#, G#, B, C# omitting the 4th and 7th intervals.
For the key of C# minor, we have five notes also: C#, E, F#, G#, B, omitting the 2nd and 6th intervals. It shares four sharps with E major – F#, C#, G#, and D#. This is why the pentatonic scale is perfect for beginners
We have five notes for the key of G major: G, A, B, D, E omitting the 4th and 7th intervals.
For the key of E minor, we have five notes also: E, G, A, B, D, omitting the 2nd and 6th intervals. It shares one sharp with G major – F#.
We have five notes for the key of A major: A, B, C#, E, F# omitting the 4th and 7th intervals.
For the key of F# minor, we have five notes also: F#, A, B, C#, E omitting the 2nd and 6th intervals. It shares three sharps with A major – F#, C#, and G#.
I have covered just the pentatonic scales beginning with C.
Need more? Here’s a book I recommend: VISUAL PIANO: Pentatonic & Symmetrical Scales. (full disclosure: your purchase helps me keep this site going :))