ScalesA Major Pentatonic
Guitar scale · fretboard map
A Major Pentatonic Scale
The A Major Pentatonic scale is built from the notes A, B, C#, E, and F#. The diagram below maps every one of those notes across the guitar neck, from the open strings up to the 12th fret, with the root A highlighted.
The major pentatonic scale is five notes that sit happily over anything major: the everyday scale for country, rock, and pop melodies.
Notes in the A Major Pentatonic scale
A1
B2
C#3
E5
F#6
A Major Pentatonic scale on the fretboard
root (A) other scale notes
Explore this on the interactive fretboard →
The free Fretboard Explorer lets you switch keys and see the CAGED shapes and scale overlays tile the whole neck.
Other scales in A
A MajorA Natural MinorA Minor PentatonicA BluesA DorianA PhrygianA LydianA MixolydianA Harmonic Minor
The major pentatonic scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
- What notes are in the A Major Pentatonic scale?
- The A Major Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes: A, B, C#, E, and F#. As scale degrees those are 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.
- How do you play the A Major Pentatonic scale on guitar?
- Every note above is shown on the fretboard diagram, from the open strings up to the 12th fret, with the root (A) highlighted. The pattern is movable: learn the shape once and you can slide it to start on any root. Anchor your playing to the A notes so the scale sounds resolved.
- What is the A Major Pentatonic scale used for?
- The major pentatonic scale is five notes that sit happily over anything major: the everyday scale for country, rock, and pop melodies. Once the shape is under your fingers, try improvising over a backing track in A and listen for how each note pulls back toward the root.