Let’s dive deeper into Intervals and figure out what the scales are. Scales are a selection of notes, out of the chromatic scale (12 notes). They are constructed using steps.

The Major Pentatonic scale is a five-note scale that is widely used in various genres, including country, folk, and pop. It has a bright, happy, and uplifting sound that is both simple and pleasing to the ear. This scale is often the first one musicians learn due to its straightforward structure and versatility.

Musicians use the Major Pentatonic scale to create melodies and solos that are both catchy and memorable. It's particularly effective in conveying a sense of joy and optimism, making it a popular choice for upbeat and celebratory pieces. This scale is a favorite among guitarists and other instrumentalists looking to add a bright and cheerful touch to their playing.

Harmonically, the Major Pentatonic scale allows for the creation of chords and progressions that have a distinctive and pleasing sound. These progressions are often used in country and folk music to create a sense of movement and harmony. Whether you're playing a simple folk song or a catchy pop tune, the Major Pentatonic scale is an essential tool for any musician.

The relative steps of the major pentatonic scale are: w-w-wh-w-wh (w=whole step, h=half step, w=whole and half step).
Let’s explore how that exactly works:

What does diatonic mean?

The term "diatonic" refers to a scale that uses a mix of whole steps and half steps. When we say "diatonic," we mean notes that belong to the scale. For example, if you're playing in the key of B♭ major and using B♭ major notes, those notes are diatonic.

In the piano example above, you saw that only the notes from the scale are used. This means they only include notes "of the scale." Knowing about diatonic notes is important for understanding music theory and making melodies that sound good.

Using diatonic notes helps musicians keep their music in key, making it sound smooth and pleasant. Understanding diatonic notes will improve your musical skills and creativity.

Back to the banjo! You might wonder how this all translates back to your instrument and that might be a bit confusing at first, but please stay tuned. As you just seen, the chromatic intervals for major pentatonic scale are {1, 3, 5, 8 and 10}. To most people, this is not very useful information. The diatonic steps 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 are more important to know. Try to learn see the difference between those and learn that by heart. From there it is way more interesting and practical to look at diatonic scale intervals.

Switch between chromatic/diatonic/notes below to see/learn the relations between them. For convenience, the root note (B♭) is highlighted.

As you might notice, the scales have 7 notes, except for the blues and pentatonic scales.