The pentatonic scale (PT) contains a total of five notes. It is similar to the major scale except the 4th and 7th notes are omitted. Therefore the interval structure of the pentatonic scale is different from the diatonic scales because there are only five notes and no semitones present. The note pattern of the major pentatonic scale is T T T1/2 T T T1/2.
The absents of a 7th makes this scale quite versatile and therefore it fits to various chord types, e.g., maj6, maj7, dom7 etc. The pentatonic scale, its inversions/modes and some matching chords are listed here.
The following example illustrates the G major pentatonic scale with the note pattern:
T T T1/2 T T1/2
The PT II is constructed by starting and finishing on the second note of the pentatonic scale. This is shown in example 275, which begins with the second note of the G pentatonic scale (A) and finishes one octave higher. The note pattern is
T T1/2 T T1/2 T
The PT III is constructed by starting and finishing on the third note of the G pentatonic scale, the B note in the given example. The note pattern is
T1/2 T T1/2 T T
The PT IV is constructed by starting and finishing on the fourth note of the G pentatonic scale, the D note in the given example. The note pattern is
T T1/2 T T T1/2
The PT V is constructed by starting and finishing on the fifth note of the G pentatonic scale, the E note in the given example. The note pattern is
T1/2 T T T1/2 T
Example 279 utilizes the G major pentatonic scale, as well as some inversions and modes that derive from it.