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Five notes on the black keys
Age 12 · Music
A pentatonic scale uses only five notes in each octave, while a major scale uses seven. If you play just the black keys of a piano, you are playing a pentatonic scale.
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In the picture
- The pair of black keys: the first two notes of the pentatonic scale
- The trio of black keys: three more notes, five notes in all
- The white keys: the seven notes of the C major scale
Examples
- Many folk songs and lullabies, such as "Amazing Grace", use only the five notes of a pentatonic scale.
- Blues and rock guitar solos often use a pentatonic scale.
Key takeaways
- A pentatonic scale has 5 notes per octave and a major scale has 7.
- The five black keys of a piano form a pentatonic scale.
Quiz: Five notes on the black keys (Age 12)
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How does a pentatonic scale compare with a major scale?
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If you play only the black keys of a piano, which kind of scale are you playing?
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Which piano keys play the seven notes of the C major scale?
The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.
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