Major Pentatonic vs Major (Ionian) on Piano
The C major pentatonic and the C major (ionian) share 5 notes — C, D, E, G, A. From there, the C major (ionian) adds F, B.
Piano, C3 to C5. Notes in this scale, low to high: C3 (root of C Major Pentatonic and root of C Major (Ionian)), D3 (2 of C Major Pentatonic and 2 of C Major (Ionian)), E3 (3 of C Major Pentatonic and 3 of C Major (Ionian)), F3 (4), G3 (5 of C Major Pentatonic and 5 of C Major (Ionian)), A3 (6 of C Major Pentatonic and 6 of C Major (Ionian)), B3 (7), C4 (root of C Major Pentatonic and root of C Major (Ionian)), D4 (2 of C Major Pentatonic and 2 of C Major (Ionian)), E4 (3 of C Major Pentatonic and 3 of C Major (Ionian)), F4 (4), G4 (5 of C Major Pentatonic and 5 of C Major (Ionian)), A4 (6 of C Major Pentatonic and 6 of C Major (Ionian)), B4 (7), C5 (root of C Major Pentatonic and root of C Major (Ionian)).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
Both scales above are drawn on one piano keyboard in the key of C. Notes belonging to both are drawn as a split two-color dot, so the notes they share and the notes unique to each are visible in one picture.
How the formulas differ
Scale degrees are the key-independent way to compare two scales — these stay the same in every key, and they are what actually distinguishes one scale from another.
| Scale | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Major Pentatonic | R · 2 · 3 · 5 · 6 |
| Major (Ionian) | R · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 |
Notes in common
| Note | In Major Pentatonic | In Major (Ionian) |
|---|---|---|
| C | R | R |
| D | 2 | 2 |
| E | 3 | 3 |
| G | 5 | 5 |
| A | 6 | 6 |
Notes that differ
- Only in the major (ionian): F (4), B (7)