what‘s the 3rd note played in an ascending pentatonic scale in key of A?
and what’s the 5th note played in descending pentatonic scale in key of B, if the first played note is B?
Can anyone help me and tell me the reason for the answer?
Whether it’s major or minor pentatonic, the notes are still derived from the major scale. Let’s say the key of A.
A major scale: A B C# D E F# G#
Major pentatonic formula is 1 2 3 5 6 therefore …
Major pentatonic notes: A B C# E F#
Minor pentatonic formula: 1 b3 4 5 b7.
Minor pentatonic notes: A C D E G
Once you get past the last note in the scale you start from the root again in the next octave. So if you play A major pentatonic descending it will look like this.
A F# E C# B A so the third note in this case will be E. This is only the third note played, it does not alter the scale degree. In the key of A, E will still be the fifth. The scale degrees do not change, a fifth of any key will always be a fifth of that key no matter what order you play them.
Let’s look at the B major notes starting and ending on the root.
B Major: B C# D# E F# G# A# B
B major pentatonic: B C# D# F# G# B
B minor pentatonic: B D E F# A B
B major pentatonic descending:
B G# F# D# C# B
The fifth note played will be C#
In the key of B … C# is the 2nd scale degree. The order you play the notes does not change its scale degree. B will always be the root in the key of B, C# will always be the 2nd, D# the third and so on.
Great! I think the question are talking about minor pentatonic scale, and I understand now.
Thanks a lot!