Scale Comparison
Pick two scales and a root note to see exactly which intervals they share and where they diverge.
All 12 notes — from C
Scale A
C Major
R 2 3 4 5 6 7
Bright and happy. The foundation of Western music.
Open on fretboard →Scale B
C Pentatonic Major
R 2 3 5 6
5-note major scale. Great for country and pop melodies.
Open on fretboard →Interval differences
Only in Major (2 notes)
Only in Pentatonic Major (0 notes)
All notes shared with the other scale
Major vs Pentatonic Major: What changes?
The Major Pentatonic is a 5-note subset of the Major Scale — it removes the 4th and 7th.
Mood difference
The full major scale is versatile and complete. The major pentatonic is brighter and more universally 'safe' — it is the scale behind most whistled melodies, folk music, and country leads.
Harmonic function
The 4th creates a mild tension against the major chord's 3rd. The 7th creates a tension that wants to resolve up to the root. Removing both produces a scale with no dissonance — every note sits comfortably over major and dominant chord progressions.