The major pentatonic scale is another particularly useful scale for improvising. Like the minor pentatonic, it contains only five different notes, but has a more major sound. In fact, a major pentatonic scale is simply a major scale without the 4th and 7th degrees.
C Major Pentatonic = C D E G A
Degrees – 1 2 3 5 6
Open Position C Form
The major pentatonic scale is common in Country music, as well as many traditional Folk music styles from around the world. These examples make use of the open position C major pentatonic scale.
This example features typical Country style note bending. This sound was developed by guitarists imitating the sound of a pedal steel. Listen to Roy Nichols (with Merle Haggard) and Roy Buchanan, as well as Southern Rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd to hear some great examples of this style of playing.