In this article/video, we're going to study the fundamentals of the major pentatonic scales in all 15 key signatures. We'll use my Balanced Scale Pairs System (see Reference A) to master the scales. We will organize our practice by progressing naturally from the key signature with zero accidentals, and then we'll master 7 key pairs: the 1-accidental key pair through the 7-accidental key pair.
Mastering the major pentatonic scale is essential for any improvising musician. These five-note structures distill the major scale down to its most consonant core tones. Knowing these scales provides a strong melodic foundation for improvising over major chords and navigating chord changes across genres like jazz, country, pop, and R&B. By internalizing these patterns across all keys, you develop the necessary vocabulary to confidently play over major chord progressions and create compelling melodic lines.
Keywords: major pentatonic scale, pentatonic scales, major scale, music theory, key signatures, scale notes, sharps and flats, accidentals, practice charts, music reference, saxophone practice, instrumental practice
0 Accidentals
Label
Key
Signature
Scale Notes
00
C major pentatonic
0
C - D - E - G - A - C
1 Accidental
Label
Key
Signature
Scale Notes
01a
G major pentatonic
1 Sharp (F#)
G - A - B - D - E - G
01b
F major pentatonic
1 Flat (Bb)
F - G - A - C - D - F
2 Accidentals
Label
Key
Signature
Scale Notes
02a
D major pentatonic
2 Sharps (F#, C#)
D - E - F# - A - B - D
02b
Bb major pentatonic
2 Flats (Bb, Eb)
Bb - C - D - F - G - Bb
3 Accidentals
Label
Key
Signature
Scale Notes
03a
A major pentatonic
3 Sharps (F#, C#, G#)
A - B - C# - E - F# - A
03b
Eb major pentatonic
3 Flats (Bb, Eb, Ab)
Eb - F - G - Bb - C - Eb
4 Accidentals
Label
Key
Signature
Scale Notes
04a
E major pentatonic
4 Sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#)
E - F# - G# - B - C# - E
04b
Ab major pentatonic
4 Flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db)
Ab - Bb - C - Eb - F - Ab
5 Accidentals
Label
Key
Signature
Scale Notes
05a
B major pentatonic
5 Sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#)
B - C# - D# - F# - G# - B
05b
Db major pentatonic
5 Flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb)
Db - Eb - F - Ab - Bb - Db
6 Accidentals
Label
Key
Signature
Scale Notes
06a
F# major pentatonic
6 Sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#)
F# - G# - A# - C# - D# - F#
06b
Gb major pentatonic
6 Flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb)
Gb - Ab - Bb - Db - Eb - Gb
7 Accidentals
Label
Key
Signature
Scale Notes
07a
C# major pentatonic
7 Sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#)
C# - D# - E# - G# - A# - C#
07b
Cb major pentatonic
7 Flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb, Fb)
Cb - Db - Eb - Gb - Ab - Cb
References
[A] The Balanced Scale Pairs System (Saxtalk.com). Retrieved September 29, 2026 from here.
[B] Scales That Every Professional Saxophonist Should Master (Saxtalk.com). Retrieved September 29, 2026 from here.
[C] Pentatonic scale (Wikipedia). Retrieved September 29, 2026 from here.
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