Pentatonic scale

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A pentatonic scale, pentaphonic or pentafona1enmusic, it is ascaleomode
musicalconsisting of a succession of fivesounds, heightsonotesdifferent within
aeighth.2
In fact, it would be more appropriate to talk about pentatonic scales in the plural, since there are
various types. They are also very common and samples of them appear in countless
ofgendersymusical cultures. Theethnomusicologyit usually classifies these scales into two
large categories: hemic tones, which contain one or more semitones, and non-hemic tones, which
they do not contain a semitones.3The most common is the anhemitonic.ca,4that is not separated by
semitones but bywhole tonesthe intervals ofthird.56Specifically, it is composed of
three whole tones and two minor thirds, the interval pattern is tone—tone—tone and
half-tone—(tone and a half) in the case of major pentatonics; or good tone and a half—
tone—tone—tone and a half—(tone) for minor pentatonic scaless.4

Types[edit]
Hemitonic and anhemitonic[edit]
TheethnomusicologyIt usually classifies pentatonic scales as hemipentatonic or anhemitonic.
The hemitonic scales contain one or more semitones, while the anharmonic scales do not.
they contain semitones. For example, in theJapanese musicthe escalayoanhemitonic contrasts
with the half-tonic scale. The half-tonic pentatonic scales are also called
"dichordal scales" due to theintervalbigger than there is in them is theditono(by
For example, in the scale - mi - fa - sol - si - do, the interval existing between do - mi and sol - si.).78This
denomination should not be confused with the identical term also used by the
ethnomusicologists to describe a scale formed by only two notes.

Major pentatonic scale[edit]

The construction of these scales can be carried out in multiple ways.as.3

Apply theinterval schemetone-tone-tone and a half-tone-(tone and a half) from

a specific note. From the result is do-re-mi-sol-la. C-D-E-G-A.
Starting from amajor scaleremove thedegreesfourth and seventh. In other words,
take the notes 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 from the major scale. For example, in the C major scale.
(do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-si) the fourth and seventh degrees are omitted (faysi), resulting in
resulting do-re-mi-sol-la. C-D-E-G-A.
Following thecircle of fifthsthey are counted thefair fifthsfrom a certain note
and then the resulting notes are arranged. For example, to obtain the pentatonic
the following fifths are counted (C, G, D, A, E) and then they are arranged,
resulting in this: do-re-mi-sol-la. C-D-E-G-A.
Simply the sequence of the notes corresponding to the black keys of the piano gives
place to another of these scales.
Major pentatonic scale finger. Reproduce(?·i)

Minor pentatonic scale[edit]

In the same way as in the previous case, there are various ways to obtain this type of
pentatonicas.9

The minor pentatonic is arelative scaleof the major pentatonic. Thus, the
The minor pentatonic scale would be formed by the same notes as the major pentatonic scale.
dedopero starting in la, resulting in la-do-re-mi-sol-la. A-C-D-E-G-A.
Apply the interval scheme whole tone and half tone-tone-tone and a half (tone) starting from
a specific note. From the result is the-do-re-mi-sol-la. A-C-D-E-G-A.
Starting from aminor scale, remove thedegreessecond and sixth least. In others
words, take from the natural minor scale the tones 1, 3, 4, 5 and7.10
For example, in the A minor scale (A-B-C-D-E-F-G). A-B-C-D-E-F-G. the
second degree and the sixth minor (siyfa) and you get la-do-re-mi-sol-la. A-C-D-E-G-A.

It can also be understood as ablues scalewith certain huecos.11

D minor pentatonic scale. Reproduce(?·i)

Among the songs based on the minor pentatonic scale are included thesong
popularCanadian"Land of the Silver Birch". Due to their simplicity, the scales
Pentatonic scales are commonly used in introducing children to music. Other songs
Children's popular songs are practically pentatonic. For example, nature almost
pentatonic lullaby"Summertime" ofGershwinit is evident when one
interpret in thetonalityofmeB flat minor. In that key, the melody can be played.
almost entirely on the black keys of thepiano, except for a single time in each verse where it
it requires a bla keynca.9

Pentatonic scales with the black keys of the piano[edit]

The five pentatonic scales that arise from the combination of theblack keys of the
pianoson

Keys Transposition to
No. Name Ratios (Justa)
black white keys

B♭-F-A
Mode
Minor pentatonic B-flat 30:36:40:45:54:60la-do-re-mi-sol-la
I
B flat
 G♭-A♭-B♭
Mode
Major pentatonic -D♭-E♭- 24:27:30:36:40:48 do-re-mi-sol-la-do
II
G flat

A♭-B♭-D♭-
Mode
Egyptian D♭-G♭-A 24:27:32:36:40:48 re-mi-sol-la-do-re
III
♭

B♭-D♭-E♭
Blues Scale Mode
-sol♭-la♭-si 15:18:20:24:27:30 mi-sol-la-do-re-mi
E minor, Man Gong
♭

D flat - E flat - G
Blues Scale Mode B-flat, A-flat, B-flat, D 24:27:32:36:40:48sol-la-do-re-mi-sol
V mayor, I scale you
♭

(A minor seventh can be 7:4, 16:9, or 9:5; a major sixth can be 27:16 or 5:3. Both
They were chosen to minimize the ratios.)
Ricker assigned the major pentatonic scale the mode I while Gilchrist assigned it the mode
III.12

Tuning[edit]
Ben Johnston proposes the followingPythagorean tuningfor the minor pentatonic scaleenormous13
Reproduce(?·i)

Solfege The Do Regarding Me Sun The

Note Ratio 1/1 32/27 4/3 3/2 16/9 2/1

Natural 54 64 72 81 96 108
 Audio 1(?·i) 3(?·I) 4(?·i) 5(?·I) 7(?·i) 8(?·i)

Name 3rd m T T 3rd m T

Interval

Ratio 32/27 September

9/8 8 32/27 9/8

Just pentatonic tuning of Lou Harrison's 'American Gamelan.' This gives the proportions.
24:27:30:36:40.14
Reproduce(?·I)

Slendroapproximately in Western notation. ("The representation of tuning systems of the

the western notation shown above should not be considered in
no absolute cases. It is not only difficult to convey non-Western scales to Western notation...).15
Reproduce(?·i)

Thenatural notesthat table is not the series of the sunsharpsydynamics. You are
natural notes are reciprocals of the terms in theharmonic series, what are multiples of
onefundamental frequency. This can be obtained through the principle that historically
provides the diatonic and chromatic pitagorean scales, stacking perfect fifths with
frequency ratios 3:2 (do-sol-re-la-mi). Considering the scale without semitones as
a subset of ajust intonation scale, tuned like this; 20:24:27:30:36 (C-D-E-F-
sol= 5/3-1/1-9/8-5/4-3/2). The assignment of precise frequency proportions to the scales
Pentatonic scales from most cultures are problematic, as the tuning can be
variable. For example, the scaleslendrowithout semitones and its modes of Java and Bali are said to
tend to be, broadly speaking, a scale of five notes of equal temperament,
The slendrose consists of five equal or relatively equal intervals.es15but in fact,
their tunings vary dramatically from agamelanto another gamelan. "...In general, there is no
two gamelan ensembles that have exactly the same tuning, whether in pitch
musical or in the structure of intervals. There are no standard Javanese forms of these two
tuning systems.»15
The specially trained musicians among the peopleGogofrom Tanzania they sing the
harmonics from the fourth to the ninth (and occasionally the tenth) above a fundamental,
which corresponds to the frequency proportions 4:5:6:7:8:9 up to eight, it is about a
octave scale of five notes (8 is the same note one octave higher than 4), while
nine is a second major above eight, and a ninth major above
four. The bit 6:7:8 includes two septimal ratios that are rarely found in pentagrams.
western (minor seventh and whole seventh tone).
TheLou Harrisonhe has been the only one of the more recent composers who has proposed and
developed new pentatonic scales based on historical models. Harrison andWilliam
Colvigthey refine the scales of the gamelan in the harmonics 16:19:21:24:28.14(1/1-19/16-
21/16-3/2-7/4). They tune the Mills gamelan in such a way that the intervals between the degrees of the
the scale follows the following ratios 8:7-7:6-9:8-8:7-7:6.14(1/1-8/7-4/3-3/2-12/7-2/1 =
42:48:56:63:72).

Distribution[edit]
These scales are practically omnipresent in all cultures and musical practices of the
world. Thus we find pentatonic scales in a large number of children's songs.s5in the
traditional music of countries with significant substrateCeltic, in the music ofWest Africa,6
in the Afro-Caribbean musical tradition, in a large number of traditional melodies from the countries
from the mountain range of theAndes, thefolk music of the United States, in traditional music
ofGreeceand in the music of the region ofEpirusin the northwest of Greece, in the music of the south
ofAlbania, in the highlands of theTatra Mountainsto the south ofPoland, in music
traditionalHungarian, in thesongjoikof theLaplanders, in melodies
ofKorea, Japan, ChinayVietnam.2Thetuningof instruments such as thekraarofEthiopiaand the
orchestragamelanofIndonesia16they are made according to this kind of scales.
It is also found in the melodies of thespiritualAfrican Americans, in themusic
gospel, thejazz, thebluesand therock. TheWestern classical musicit is also not foreign to this
scale, which can be appreciated in the production
ofcomposershowChopin, Debussy, RavelyBartók.2517TheStudy Op. 10 No. 5, also
known as "La négresse" and "Black keys", that is to say, "Black keys", constitutes a
sample of the use of the major pentatonic scale in this areao.18

Asia[edit]
The major pentatonic scale is the basic scale of themusic from Chinaymusic of Mongolia.
The fundamental sounds (without meriokari techniques) taken from the five orifices of the
fluteJapanesecallshakuhachithey form a minor pentatonic scale. The song
traditional Japanese"Cherry Blossom" use a half-toned pentatonic scale with the notes A-B
do-mi-fa. LaI scaleused the Buddhist chantsshomyoand musicancient Japanese court musicfrom the court
the imperial of Japan is the pentatonic scale without semitonesonos19is shown below, which is
the fourth mode of the major pentatonic scale.

In musicgamelanofJavathe scaleslendrois pentatonic with more or less intervals

equidistantMIDI sample(?·i)). On the other hand, the scalepelogit has seven tones,
but it is generally interpreted using one of several pentatonic subsets (known
howpathetic), which are approximately analogous to varioustonalitiesomodes.

America[edit]
In theAndean musicthe minor pentatonic scale is substantially used and sometimes the
The Andean music preserves and develops a rich heritage of theIncan musical culture.
In the oldest genres of Andean music, which are played without string instruments,
only withwindsypercussion, the pentatonic melody is usually led
by means offifthsyfourthsJust parallel, so formally this music ishexatonic.
For example: Pacha Siku(?·i)
The minor pentatonic is used in folk music of theAppalachians. The music of
theBlack feetuses tetratonic or pentatonic scales more frequently without
semitonos.20

Europe[edit]
In theScottish musicThe pentatonic scale is very common. The Great Highland Bagpipe scale.
Highland is considered to be three intertwined pentatonic scales.adas.21This is
especially true in the case of thePibroch, which usually uses one of the scales
pentatonic scales starting from the nine possible notes. It also appears in thetraditional music
Irish, either pure or almost.

Popular music[edit]
The musicjazzhe usually uses both the major pentatonic scale and the minor one.
example, jazz pianistsArt Tatum, Chick CoreayHerbie Hancock, just like
inbluesyrock. Pentatonic scales are useful for theimprovisationin contexts of
jazz, pop, and current rock, because they work well over several diatonic chords of the same.
tone. For example, theblues scaleit mainly derives from the minor pentatonic, a
very popular scale for improvisation in both blues and rock contexts.22Solo of
rock guitar almost entirely in B minor pentatonic(?·i) For example, more than one triad of
In the key of D major, the note F# can be perceived as
dissonant, since it is a half tone above the major third (E) of the chord. For this reason
The reason is usually avoided. Using the major pentatonic scale is an easy way to remedy this.
problem. The tones of the scale 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 of the major pentatonic are either tones of
major triads (1, 3, 5) or common consonant extensions (2, 6) of major triads. For
the corresponding relative minor pentatonic, the tones of the scale 1,♭3, 4, 5,♭7 function
in the same way, either as minor triad tones (1, ♭3, 5) or as extensions
common (4,♭7), since all of them avoid being a semitone away from a chord tone.

In theheavy metalthey are used a lot in guitar solos, the solos ofZakk Wyldeson
citation required]
examples of the constant use that is given to these scales in this musical genre.[
The melodies of thepopular musicsometimes they contain the pentatonic scale. For
example, in the songs"Old Man River" o"Sukiyaki". The pentatonic scale is also a
basic ingredient of thefilm music, where it is used as a resource to indicate
primitive or exotic contexts. With the appropriate changes in orchestration, it can
to be used to describe an oriental environment, a scene withNative Americans, or a
rusticHoedown. An example of film music that incorporates elements of East Asia.
and Western America of history is suggested in the melody is the theme of the title of7 Faces
of Dr. Lao.
Theanthemsand other forms ofreligious musicsometimes they use the pentatonic scale.
example, the melody of the anthem"Amazing Grace", one of the most famous of all the pieces
of religious musicsa.23

Western classical music[edit]

The composers ofWestern classical musicthey have employed the pentatonic scales for
to add special effects to their works.Antonín Dvořák, inspired by thenative music
Americanand theAfrican American spiritualswhat he heard in the United States, made a wide
use of pentatonic themes in theirSymphony of the "New World"and in his"American" Quartet.
The operasMadama ButterflyyTurandotofGiacomo Puccinithey allude to pentatonism
from Japan and from China respectively.Maurice Ravelhe used a pentatonic scale as
base of a melody in Passacaille, the third movement of itsPiano trioand how
apasticheof Chinese music in "Laideronette, Empress of the Pagodas", which is a
movement of his workMother Goose. The wonderful mandarinofBéla BartókyThe
nightingaleofIgor Stravinskythey contain many pentatonic passages.The song of the
EarthofGustav Mahlerit also contains strong influences of pentatonic scales
Easterners, mixed with an advancedharmonic languageromantic, forming a work
a teacher that sounds quite peculiar.

Use in education[edit]
The pentatonic scale plays a significant role in themusic education, above all
in the pedagogical methodologies based on the works ofOrff, KodályyWaldorfin the
levels ofelementary and primary education.

Orff Method[edit]
TheOrff methodplaces special emphasis on the development of creativity through
theimprovisationin children, especially through the use of the pentatonic scale.
TheOrff instrumentalcchildxylophones, bellsand othersmetallophones, they use wooden boards,
of metal or bells that can be removed by the teacher leaving only the
corresponding to the pentatonic scale, whichCarl Orffsame considered the native tonality
of the childos.24The children start to improvise using only the plates of
pentatonic. Over time, at the teacher's discretion, more will be added until completed.
thediatonic scale. Orff believed that the use of the pentatonic scale at such an early age was
appropriate for the development of each child, as the nature of this scale implies that it is
impossible for the child to make any mistakeharmonic.

Waldorf Education[edit]
In theWaldorf pedagogymusic based on this type of scales is considered suitable
for small children due to its simplicity and ease of unconscious expression. The
pentatonic music based on intervals offifthis often sung and played in the
early childhood; increasingly smaller intervals are being emphasized within the
pentatonic as children progress through school grades. Around
at the age of nine, music begins to focus on thefolk musicfirst
using asix-tone scaleand then thediatonic scalesmodern, with the aim of
show the child's development progress in their musical experience. The instruments
pentatonics that are used in this method areliras, flautasand plates of different heights.
Likewise, there are instruments that have been specifically designed.