Definition

Noun: A musical scale consisting of five notes per octave. This is typically created by omitting two specific notes (often the fourth and seventh) from the standard seven-note diatonic scale, resulting in a distinct, often folk or non-Western, sound.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The melody was based on a simple pentatone, giving it an ancient and open quality.
  • Many traditional Asian musical systems are built upon a pentatone.
  • Blues and rock guitarists frequently use the minor pentatone for solos.

Advanced Usage

• "Pentatonic scale": This is the most common and precise term. "Pentatone" is a less frequent synonym.
  • The composer utilized the pentatonic scale to evoke a pastoral feeling.
• The concept is often described by the notes omitted: "anhemitonic pentatonic scale" (without semitones) is common, created by omitting the fourth and seventh degrees of the major scale.

Variants and Related Words

• Pentatonic (adj): Of or relating to a five-note scale.
  • The song has a pentatonic melody.
• Pentatonic scale (n): The full, more technical term for a pentatone.
• Diatonic scale (n): The seven-note scale (e.g., major or minor) from which a pentatone is often derived by omission.

Synonyms

• Pentatonic scale: The direct and more common synonym.
• Five-note scale: A descriptive synonym.

Related Terms and Concepts

• Gapped scale: A general term for any musical scale with fewer than seven notes within an octave; a pentatone is a type of gapped scale.
• Mode: A type of scale; the pentatone can be considered a specific scale or can form the basis of different pentatonic modes.

Noun

1. a gapped scale with five notes; usually the fourth and seventh notes of the diatonic scale are omitted