Scale Degrees
With any scale you learn, it is important to be able to identify each note of the scale as it relates to the root note or key note. There is a number which goes with each note of a scale which shows its relation to the major scale. These numbers are called scale degrees.
It is worth comparing the notes of the minor pentatonic scale with those of the major scale. Shown below are the note names and the scale degrees of both scales in the key of C.
C Major Scale
C Minor Pentatonic Scale
Notice that the minor pentatonic scale does not contain the degrees 2 or 6, and that the 3rd and 7th degrees are flattened. Play through the C minor pentatonic scale several times, naming the scale degrees as you play each one. when can do this from memory, try transposing it to other keys by moving it up or down the fretboard (e.g., D minor pentatonic = 10th fret, A minor pentatonic = 5th fret, etc). The scale degrees remain the same regardless of what key you are playing in.
