A Major Pentatonic Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in Open G tuning — fretboard diagram
A Major Pentatonic in Open G — Notes and Intervals
The A Major Pentatonic scale is a universal five-note scale found in almost every musical culture. On Guitar, it contains the notes A, B, C#, E, F#. It is extremely consonant and easy to listen to, making it the perfect choice for melodies in country, pop, and blues. Its open sound ensures that almost any note played will sound correct over major harmonies. Commonly used in Country, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk. Notable players include Keith Richards, B.B. King, John Mayer, Eric Clapton. Use over any major chord, major key progression, or dominant 7th chord. The safest and most universal soloing tool.
Notes: A, B, C#, E, F#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 5P, 6M
Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5
Formula: W-W-WH-W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Tuning: Open G (D-G-D-G-B-D)
Also known as: pentatonic
About Open G Tuning
Open G tuning (D-G-D-G-B-D) produces a G major chord when strummed open, making it the definitive tuning for slide guitar and delta blues. The tuning's natural consonance means that barring across any fret gives you a major chord, which is why it's been the backbone of blues and roots music for over a century.
From Robert Johnson to Keith Richards, Open G has shaped some of the most iconic music ever recorded. Keith Richards famously removes the low 6th string entirely in this tuning, creating his signature five-string sound on songs like 'Start Me Up' and 'Brown Sugar'. For slide players, Open G is essential — it allows clean, singing slide lines across all strings with minimal effort.
Notable artists: Keith Richards, Robert Johnson, Ry Cooder, Joni Mitchell, The Black Crowes
Best for: Slide guitar, delta blues, Keith Richards-style rock riffs, and open-string fingerpicking
Musical Character
By removing the 4th and 7th degrees from the major scale, all dissonant intervals disappear. Every note sounds 'right' — making it nearly impossible to play a wrong note over major harmony.
Chord Progressions Using This Scale
- I – V – vi – IV (Pop Progression)Pop / Rock — Hope & Joy
- vi – IV – I – V (Melancholic Variation)Pop / Rock — Melancholy
- I – vi – IV – V (50s Doo-Wop)Pop / Rock — Nostalgia
- IV – V – I – vi (Unresolved Cycle)Pop / Rock — Dreamy & Cyclical
- IV – I – V – vi (Sensitive Pop)Pop / Rock — Uplifting
- I – IV – V (Rock & Folk Classic)Pop / Rock — Energy & Drive
- I – V – IV (Rock Ballad)Pop / Rock — Anthemic
- I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V (Pachelbel's Canon)Classical / Pop — Epic & Nostalgic
- I – vi – ii – V (Jazz Turnaround)Jazz / Soul — Sophistication
- ii – V – I (Jazz ii–V–I)Jazz / Soul — Sophistication
- IV – V – iii – vi (Royal Road (J-Pop))World / J-Pop — Yearning & Nostalgia
- IV – V – iii – vi – ii – V – I (Japanese Circle)World / J-Pop — Complete Resolution
- I – I+ – I6 – I7 (Ascending Augmented)Classical / Pop — Hopeful & Yearning