Major Pentatonic scales

Pentatonic scales are five-note scales. The major pentatonic scale conforms to the following scale formula:

The major pentatonic scale contains the root, third and fifth of the major triad (1-3-5), and all four chord-tones of the major-sixth chord (1-3-5-6). The additional tone, scale-degree two, is the simple-interval equivalent of tension nine, which is available as a tension on most major triads, all major-sixth chords, all major-seventh chords, and many seventh chords, depending on function.
The table below shows many of the applications for this scale.

*NOTE: Major Pentatonic scales and Major Blues scales are virtually always compatible; where one works, so will the other. The overlay relationships are more sensitive. Experimentation is recommended.

**Major Pentatonic scale applications**
By Chord	Major Triad [most functions] Major-Sixth chord Major-Seventh chord Seventh chords [with natural-nine / natural-thirteen]		1 - 3 - 5 - 6/13 - 9
By Key	Modal		IONIAN MIXOLYDIAN LYDIAN [pan-diatonic only]
Overlay [ by chord ] ALL EXAMPLES SHOWN IN C	CHORD	MAJOR PENTATONIC SCALE	RELATIVE FORMULA
	FIRST EXTENSION [ from 3rd ]
	Cm7	Eb major pentatonic	b3 - 4 - 5 - b7 - 1
	FIRST EXTENSION [ from 4th ]
	C7sus4	F major pentatonic	4 - 5 - 13 - 1 - 9
	SECOND EXTENSION [ from 5th ]
	Cmaj7	G major pentatonic	5 - 6/13 - 7 - 9 - 3
	Cm7^b5	Gb major pentatonic	b5 - b13 - b7 - b9 - b3
	THIRD EXTENSION [ from 7th ]
	C7sus4	Bb major pentatonic	b7 - 1 - 9 - 4 - 5
	TENSION EXTENSIONS
	Cmaj7	D major pentatonic	9 - 3 - #11 - 13 - 7
	Cm7	F major pentatonic	11 - 5 - 13 - 1 - 9

scale degree [ formula ]	1	2	3	5	6
solfege syllable	do	re	mi	sol	la
key of C [ C major pentatonic ]	C	D	E	G	A