Here we see a simple explanation of how Pentatonic scales are derived from Major and Minor scales.
- Major configuration is 12356. Eliminating the 4th and 7th removes the half steps and focuses on the most melodic part of the scale.
- Minor configuration is 13457. This gives us the same notes as Major except the root is “A” instead of “C” resulting in a minor sound. The same melodic effect is gained by removing the half steps.
The use of this five note scale is found in just about every culture and era of music.
