G major pentatonic scale
G major pentatonic scale is G – A – B – D – E, all naturals. Formula 1 2 3 5 6. Press play and follow the keys.
The notes, one step at a time
The step pattern is W W W+H W W+H (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = a step and a half). With no half steps, any two notes of it sound fine together. The wide steps are B–D and E–G.
| Degree | Note | Interval from G | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | root | |
| 2 | A | major second | |
| 3 | B | major third | |
| 5 | D | perfect fifth | |
| 6 | E | major sixth |
How the major pentatonic scale sounds
G major pentatonic drops the two notes of G major that create half steps, the 4th and the 7th. What's left can't clash with itself, which is why it's the first scale many guitarists improvise with over a G chord.
Its relative minor pentatonic starts on E: same five notes, different home.
G major pentatonic scale is G major scale without C and F♯. Hear G major scale and compare.
On piano and on guitar
No black keys at all on the piano.
On guitar the root sits at the 3rd fret of the low E string. The box above covers frets 1–7 and holds 12 notes of the scale across all six strings; play it low string to high, two notes per string.
Chords that fit G major pentatonic scale
Five notes are too few to stack a chord on every degree, but these chords use only notes from the scale, so the scale fits over each of them: G, Gsus2, G6, Gadd9, Em, Em7, Asus2, Dsus2, Asus4, Dsus4, Esus4.
G major pentatonic scale shares all its notes with E minor pentatonic (starting on the 5th note, E). Which one you hear depends on which note the music treats as home.
Finding G major pentatonic on the neck
The root, G, sits at frets 3 and 15 on the low E string and 10 on the A string. Box positions begin at frets 3, 5, 7, 10 and 12 on the 6th string. Learn the first, then connect it to its neighbor. With no half steps there are no clashing notes to avoid, which is why it is the first scale many guitarists improvise with.
On the piano, G major pentatonic scale uses no black keys at all.
Try it in thirds to stop it sounding like an exercise: G–B, A–D, B–E, D–G, E–A, then back down.
Three ways to practise G major pentatonic
Running a scale straight up and down only teaches the order. These patterns use the same 5 notes and train your ear and fingers to jump around inside G major pentatonic scale.
- Groups of three: G A B · A B D · B D E · D E G.
- Land on E: G E G E G: the 6th keeps it sweet, with no half steps anywhere.
Close relatives of G major pentatonic scale
Major pentatonic scale in every key
G major pentatonic scale: questions
What are the notes of the G major pentatonic scale?
G, A, B, D and E, then G again at the octave. Formula: 1 2 3 5 6.
How many sharps or flats are in the G major pentatonic scale?
Zero: G major pentatonic is all naturals.
What's the difference between G major pentatonic scale and G major scale?
It leaves out C and F♯.
What chords go with the G major pentatonic scale?
Any chord built only from its notes, for example G, Gsus2, G6, Gadd9, Em and Em7.
Every note on this page is computed from 1 2 3 5 6 and tested. Updated September 2026.