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.