A Major Pentatonic Scale on Mandolin

Here you can learn how to play the Major Pentatonic Scale in the key of A on the Mandolin. As well as the scale notes, degrees and patterns of the A Major Pentatonic Scale, where available we also provide suggested Mandolin fingerings. In the Mandolin view below, you can display the notes of the A Major Pentatonic Scale mapped out onto the Mandolin fretboard and switch between the notes, degrees, intervals or, if we have them, suggested Mandolin fingerings.

Notes Ascending

A, B, C, E, F, A

Notes Descending

A, F, E, C, B, A

Pattern Ascending

T, T, TS, T, TS

S = Semitone, T = Tone (2 Semitones)

Pattern Descending

TS, T, TS, T, T

S = Semitone, T = Tone (2 Semitones)

Intervals Ascending

NotesSemitonesInterval
A > A0Perfect Unison (P1)
A > B2Major 2nd (M2)
A > C4Major 3rd (M3)
A > E7Perfect 5th (P5)
A > F9Major 6th (M6)
A > A12Perfect Octave (P8)

Intervals Descending

NotesSemitonesInterval
A > A0Perfect Unison (P1)
A > F3minor 3rd (m3)
A > E5Perfect 4th (P4)
A > C8minor 6th (m6)
A > B10minor 7th (m7)
A > A12Perfect Octave (P8)
Root
Third
Fifth

Music Theory

Want to dig deeper and learn about the scale degrees, intervals, relative and parallel keys or see the notation for this scale?

Learn more about A Major Pentatonic Scale

Instrument View

See A Major Pentatonic Scale on

If you want to learn what scales and modes are and much more, check out our free Fundamentals of Music Theory course. If you already know some of the basics, you can jump straight into the scales lesson.

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