Pentatonic and diatonic scales differ in size and sound: a diatonic scale has seven notes, while a pentatonic scale has five, made by removing two notes from the diatonic scale. C major, a diatonic scale, is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, while C major pentatonic is C, D, E, G, A, with the 4th and 7th degrees removed.
What is the difference between pentatonic and diatonic scales?
Pentatonic and diatonic scales differ in size: a diatonic scale has seven notes and a pentatonic scale has five. The word diatonic means through the tones, and it describes the seven-note scales, major and minor, that are the foundation of Western music. The word pentatonic means five notes, and it describes the five-note scales that are made by removing two notes from a diatonic scale. C major, a diatonic scale, is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, while C major pentatonic is C, D, E, G, A, with the 4th degree, F, and the 7th degree, B, removed. The two notes that are removed are the ones that cause the most tension, which is why the pentatonic scale sounds safer and more open than the diatonic scale. The 4th degree can clash with the 3rd, and the 7th degree pulls strongly toward the tonic, so removing them leaves a scale with no semitone steps and no wrong notes. The diatonic scale, by contrast, has all seven notes, including the tense ones, which gives it more colour and more possibilities, but also more risk. A good player uses both: the pentatonic scale for safety and speed, and the diatonic scale for colour and completeness.
How the two scales compare
The major pentatonic scale is made by taking the major scale and removing the 4th and 7th degrees. The minor pentatonic scale is made by taking the natural minor scale and removing the 2nd and 6th degrees. In both cases the removed notes are the ones that form semitone steps with their neighbours: in the major scale the semitones fall between the 3rd and 4th degrees and between the 7th and 8th degrees, so removing the 4th and 7th eliminates both semitones. In the natural minor scale the semitones fall between the 2nd and 3rd degrees and between the 5th and 6th degrees, so removing the 2nd and 6th eliminates both semitones. The interval patterns show the difference clearly. The major scale pattern is 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, while the major pentatonic pattern is 0, 2, 4, 7, 9, which is the major pattern with the 5 and 11 removed. The natural minor pattern is 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, while the minor pentatonic pattern is 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, which is the natural minor pattern with the 2 and 8 removed. The pentatonic patterns have no semitone gaps, which is why they sound so open. The C major scale and the C major pentatonic scale show the pair, and the A minor scale and the A minor pentatonic scale show the minor pair.
Worked example — G major vs G major pentatonic. The G major scale is G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, and the G major pentatonic scale is G, A, B, D, E, with the 4th degree, C, and the 7th degree, F#, removed. Play the full major scale over a G major chord and listen for the C clashing with the B, the 3rd of the chord, and the F# pulling toward G. Now play the pentatonic scale over the same chord and notice that every note sounds safe, with no clashes and no pull. The pentatonic scale is easier to use, but the diatonic scale has more to say, and the best solos move between the two. The G major scale and the G major pentatonic scale show the comparison.
How to practise both scales
Practise the two scales together, diatonic then pentatonic, so your ear learns which notes are removed and what the removal does to the sound.
- Play the C major scale ascending, then the C major pentatonic scale, and listen for the F and B disappearing.
- Improvise over a C major chord using the pentatonic scale first, then add the 4th and 7th degrees back in, one at a time, and listen for the tension they bring.
- Play the diatonic and pentatonic scales of G, D and A in turn, and name the two notes that are removed in each case.
- On guitar, learn the pentatonic box shape, then learn the diatonic shape that surrounds it, so you can move between the two without changing position.
- Use the scale finder to compare the diatonic and pentatonic scales on the same root, and check which degrees are removed.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the pentatonic scale is a beginner scale only — The pentatonic scale is simple, but professional players use it constantly, because its safety lets them play fast and confidently. Simplicity is a strength, not a limitation, and the best solos often use the pentatonic scale as their foundation.
- Never learning the diatonic scale — The pentatonic scale is safe, but it is also limited: it has no 4th and no 7th, which means it cannot express the full harmony of a key. Learn the diatonic scale as well, so you have the complete palette when you need it.
- Adding the removed notes back carelessly — The 4th and 7th degrees are the notes that clash, so adding them back needs care: use them as passing notes, not as resting notes, and resolve them by step to a safe note.
Quick reference
This table compares the diatonic and pentatonic scales on the same roots, so you can see exactly which notes are removed in each case. The major rows lose the 4th and 7th degrees, the minor rows lose the 2nd and 6th degrees, and in every row the pentatonic scale is the diatonic scale with two notes taken out.
| Scale | Notes | Notes removed |
|---|---|---|
| C major (diatonic) | C – D – E – F – G – A – B | None |
| C major pentatonic | C – D – E – G – A | F (4th), B (7th) |
| G major (diatonic) | G – A – B – C – D – E – F# | None |
| G major pentatonic | G – A – B – D – E | C (4th), F# (7th) |
| A minor (diatonic) | A – B – C – D – E – F – G | None |
| A minor pentatonic | A – C – D – E – G | B (2nd), F (6th) |
Work through the table by taking the diatonic scale on each root and removing the two notes in the last column, checking your answers against the pentatonic rows. When you can do that without looking, play each pair on your instrument and listen for the sound changing from colourful and tense to safe and open.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between pentatonic and diatonic scales?
A diatonic scale has seven notes and a pentatonic scale has five, made by removing two notes from the diatonic scale. C major is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, while C major pentatonic is C, D, E, G, A, with the 4th and 7th degrees removed.
Which notes are removed to make a pentatonic scale?
For a major pentatonic scale, the 4th and 7th degrees of the major scale. For a minor pentatonic scale, the 2nd and 6th degrees of the natural minor scale. In both cases the removed notes are the ones that form semitone steps.
Is the pentatonic scale easier than the diatonic scale?
Yes, because it has no semitone steps and no wrong notes, so every note sounds good over the tonic chord. The diatonic scale has more colour and more possibilities, but it needs more care, because two of its notes can clash.
Can I use both scales in the same solo?
Yes, and the best solos do. Use the pentatonic scale for safe, fast passages, and add the diatonic notes, the 4th and 7th, when you want more colour and tension, resolving them by step to a safe note.
Are pentatonic scales used in all cultures?
Almost. Pentatonic scales appear in the music of China, Japan, Africa, Scotland, Native America and many other traditions, which is why the pentatonic scale is often called the most universal scale in the world.