Pentatonic Scale?
- Aug 8
- 3 min read
The quickest way to play a pentatonic scale is on the black notes of a piano. The pentatonic scale is based on the five notes and is the foundational sound to many global cultures. The notes are found in not only early Western music but in the earliest music of China, Japan, south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and in the music of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Popular folk songs that use the pentatonic scale include Ring-a-Ring of Roses, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Rain, Rain Go Away, Old McDonalds Farm. This scale is a foundation part of the Kodaly and Orff approaches.
What is a Pentatonic Scale?
A pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five notes per octave. The word "pentatonic" comes from the Greek words "penta" (meaning five) and "tonic" (meaning tone). These scales are very common in many different types of music around the world, from folk songs to jazz. They often sound very pleasant and "natural" because they don't have certain notes that can sound dissonant (clashing) in a simple melody.
Why Learn Pentatonic Scales?
Pentatonic scales are great for beginner piano students. They are easy to remember and sound good even when you play the notes in different orders, making improvisation fun and easy. They help to develop finger strength and coordination using sounds that are used in many popular songs making them easy to recognise.
G Pentatonic Scale
Today, we're going to learn the G pentatonic scale! This scale starts on the note G.
The notes in the G pentatonic scale are:
G, A, B, D, E, (and then back to G to start the next octave)
Notice that the notes C and F# are left out of this scale. This is what gives it its unique sound.
Playing the G Pentatonic Scale - Right Hand
Let's learn how to play the G pentatonic scale with your right hand.
Your thumb is finger 1, index finger is 2, middle finger is 3, ring finger is 4, and pinky finger is 5.
G: Place your thumb (1) on the G note (the black key to the left of the group of three black keys).
A: Place your index finger (2) on the A note.
B: Place your middle finger (3) on the B note.
D: Tuck your thumb (1) under your middle finger to play the D note.
E: Place your index finger (2) on the E note.
G: Place your middle finger (3) on the next G note.
Practice playing up and down the scale slowly. Make sure your fingers are curved and relaxed.
Playing the G Pentatonic Scale - Left Hand
Now let's try with your left hand. Your pinky finger is finger 5, ring finger is 4, middle finger is 3, index finger is 2, and thumb is 1.
G: Place your pinky finger (5) on the G note (the black key to the left of the group of three black keys).
A: Place your ring finger (4) on the A note.
B: Place your middle finger (3) on the B note.
D: Place your index finger (2) on the D note.
E: Place your thumb (1) on the E note.
G: Cross your middle finger (3) over your thumb to play the next G note.
Practice playing up and down the scale slowly with your left hand.
Fun Exercises with the G Pentatonic Scale
Once you're comfortable playing the scale up and down, try these fun exercises:
Improvise: Just play any of the notes from the G pentatonic scale in any order. You'll find that they almost always sound good together!
Create a melody: Try to make up a short, simple tune using only the notes of the G pentatonic scale.
Play with a backing track: Search online for "G pentatonic backing track" and try to play along.
Play with both hands: Once you're confident with each hand separately, try playing both hands at the same time, starting on the same G note.
Keep practicing, and have fun exploring pentatonic scales!
