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Major Scale, Major Pentatonic Scale, Major Blues and Minor Blues Scale
in all 12 keys going around the circle of 5ths:
C G D A E B F b♭ e♭ a♭ d♭ g♭
Major Major Pentatonic Major Blues and Minor Blues in Key of C G D and A
In this video, we explore four essential scale types—
Major, Major Pentatonic, Major Blues, and Minor Blues—
and how to play them in all 12 keys, using the Circle of Fifths as our guide.
We’ll talk about the structure of each scale, how they sound, and how they’re used in different musical contexts.
Whether you're new to theory or looking to expand your improvisation skills, this is a great way to internalize key patterns and deepen your understanding of tonal relationships on the piano.
We’ll go through each scale type in the keys of:
C, G, D, A, E, B, F, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, and G♭
The Circle of Fifths is a powerful tool that helps us visualize relationships between keys.
Moving clockwise adds one sharp with each step, while counterclockwise adds one flat.
It’s incredibly useful for transposing, composing, and improvising.
Major Scale, Major Pentatonic Scale, Major Blues Scale,
and Minor Blues Scale in All 12 Keys
– Around the Circle of Fifths
Keys: Clockwise: C, G, D, A, E, B
Counter-Clockwise: F, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭
The major scale has that classic “happy” sound and is
often recognized as the do-re-mi scale.
It’s usually the first scale most people learn.
Formula: W – W – H – W – W – W – H
Degrees: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - (8 Octave)
W = Whole step (a key between the two notes)
H = Half step (keys that are directly next to each other)
Built from the major scale degrees: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8
The major pentatonic scale is perfect for improvisation—
it rarely clashes and sounds good almost anywhere.
It’s also one of the most universal scales, found in nearly every musical culture across the globe. There's something primal and instantly recognizable about its sound.
Built on major scale degrees: 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 5, 6, 8
Take note! When we say ♭3 and 3 (also written as ♮3), we’re talking about the blue note—the expressive sound that comes from lowering a note by a half step. For example, in E major:
♭3 = G-natural
3 (♮3) = G-sharp
The major blues scale adds flavor to your improvisation and is great for slipping into rock, funk, or blues jams.
Built on minor scale degrees: 1, 3, 4, ♭5, 5, 7
Or think major scale degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 5, ♭7
This is the scale most people think of when they hear “the blues scale.”
It’s gritty, soulful, and perfect for blues, rock, jazz, and beyond.
Those blue notes (♭3, ♭5, ♭7) are what give it that raw, emotional feel.
Tip:
Practice all these scales in all 12 keys using the Circle of Fifths to stay organized and build fluency across the keyboard.
Each scale has its own character—mastering them will open up a world of creative possibilities.
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Major Scale, Major Pentatonic Scale, Major Blues and Minor Blues Scale in all 12 keys going around the circle of 5ths:
C G D A E B F b♭ e♭ a♭ d♭ g♭
Major scales sound “happy” and you may recognize them as the do-re-mi scale. These are the first scales I learned.
All major scales follow the same formula of whole and half steps:
W-W-H-W-W-W-H.
Half-steps are when two keys on the piano are right next to each other, while whole steps have a key in between.
Major Pentatonic Scale
The major pentatonic scale is built on the following major scale degrees: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.
The pentatonic scale is a useful tool for improvisation because it’s rarely dissonant.
It’s also a very interesting scale because, unlike the major and minor scales, it’s present in virtually every musical culture on earth.
People seem to recognize this scale on a primal level.
The Major Blues Scale
The major blues scale is based on the following major scale degrees:
1, 2, ♭3,♮3, 5, 6.
TAKE NOTE! When we say ♭3 or ♮3, we mean lowering the note by a half-step and leaving the note in its natural, diatonic state.
So, for example, in E major, ♭3 is G-natural and ♮3 is G-sharp.
There is a major pentatonic scale and a minor pentatonic scale.
The blues scale is another versatile tool to have in your improvising arsenal.
Its instantly recognizable sound comes from the “blue” notes, which have been lowered by a half-step.
Try sneaking a blues riff into a rock song or improvise with it in a 12-bar blues.
The Minor Blues Scale
The minor blues scale is based on the following minor scale degrees: 1, 3, 4, ♭5, 5, 7.
You can also think of it as being built on the following major scale degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 5, ♭7.
The minor blues is more common and is often just called “the blues scale.”
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