The music theory behind major and minor pentatonic scales can be a little confusing. The fretboard patterns for both guitar scales are the same. Pentatonic pattern one in the open position can produce either an E minor or G major tonality. It all depends on what the scale is being played over.

If you're playing over an E minor chord, or chord progression that revolves around an E minor chord, then your ear will hear the E note in the scale as the root. The E note is the first note in pentatonic scale pattern one. When the other scale tones draw to and resolve on the first note in this pattern it produces a minor sound. This minor pentatonic application can be heard in the song "Susie Q" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Back in Black" by AC/DC, and many others.

If you're playing over an G major chord, or chord progression that revolves around a G major chord, then your ear will hear the G note in the scale as the root. The G note is the second note in pentatonic scale pattern one. When the other scale tones draw to and resolve on the second note in this pattern it produces a major sound. This major pentatonic application can be heard in the song "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd, "Honky Tonk Women" by The Rolling Stones, and many others.

So both major and minor pentatonic guitar scales are based on the same fretboard patterns. The major/minor tonality is caused by which scale tone is functioning as the root. And the root is determined by what chord or chord progression you're playing the scale over. I hope this free guitar theory lesson clears up the difference behind the two pentatonic sounds.

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Mr. Desi Serna (Google me!)
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