A# Major pentatonic
A five-note scale without degrees 4 and 7 or any semitones; an open major sound.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- A# Major pentatonic
- Family
- Pentatonic scales
- Note count
- 5
- Step formula
- W – W – W+H – W – W+H
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-2-3-2-3
Notes & degrees
1A#root
2B#major 2nd
3Dmajor 3rd
5E#perfect 5th
6Gmajor 6th
Construction
- Overview
- A five-note scale without degrees 4 and 7 or any semitones; an open major sound.
- Application in music
- Used over a major tonic and in melodies without semitone tendencies; compatibility with other chords depends on function.
- Interval formula
- A#WB#WDWHE#WG
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IA#point of resttonic
VE#supports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
IA#A#
IIB#B#
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how A# Major pentatonic looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.