Composing with the pentatonic scale

The pentatonic scale has only five notes, but it is used in folk music all over the world. Almost any order of its notes sounds good, which makes it perfect for composing and improvising.

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The pentatonic scale

Penta means five: a pentatonic scale has five different notes.
The major pentatonic scale on C is C D E G A. It is the C major scale with the 4th (F) and 7th (B) left out.
The five black keys on a piano form a pentatonic scale.
Pentatonic scales are found in many traditions, such as Scottish and Irish folk music, Chinese music, West African music and the blues.

Shaping a melody

A good melody has a clear shape: it rises and falls.
Moving by step (to the next note) is called conjunct movement; jumping is disjunct movement. Mix both, with mostly steps.
Write in phrases, like sentences. A question phrase can end on a note that feels unfinished (such as D or G); an answer phrase ends on the home note (C).
Repeat ideas: a short musical idea used again and again is called a motif.

Improvising

To improvise is to make up music as you play.
Start simply: use 2 or 3 notes, keep to the pulse, and repeat ideas you like.
You can improvise over a drone (C and G held together) or an ostinato.
Improvising is used in many styles, such as jazz, blues and Indian classical music.
Worked example

Write a 4-note answer phrase using C pentatonic that ends on the home note, moving mostly by step.

  1. The C major pentatonic notes are C D E G A.
  2. Moving by step means going to the next note in the scale each time, for example from G down to E (E is the next pentatonic note below G).
  3. For example: G E D C. It falls by step and finishes on C, so it sounds finished.

Answer: For example G E D C (ending on the home note C).

Key idea

A pentatonic scale has five notes; C major pentatonic is C D E G A, and the black keys form one. Shape melodies in question and answer phrases, mostly by step, ending answers on the home note. Improvising means making music up as you play.

Key words
Pentatonic scale
A scale of five notes, such as C D E G A.
Conjunct
A melody moving by step, to neighbouring notes.
Disjunct
A melody moving by leaps rather than steps.
Motif
A short musical idea that can be repeated and developed.
Improvise
To make up music as you play or sing.
Pulse
The steady beat of the music.

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. A pentatonic scale on C uses C, D, E, G and A. How many different notes is that?

    Show the answer

    Answer: 5

    Penta means five: C, D, E, G, A.

  2. Which notes make up the G major pentatonic scale?

    1. G A B C D
    2. G B D F A
    3. G A B D E
    4. G A C D F
    Show the answer

    Answer: G A B D E

    It is the G major scale without C and F sharp.

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Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.