Final answer:
A pentatonic scale is made up of five notes. The frequencies of these notes on a stringed instrument like a guitar are based on the string length, tension, and density.
Step-by-step explanation:
A pentatonic scale consists of five notes per octave. The name itself comes from the Greek word "pente," meaning five, and "tonic," meaning tone. When playing a musical instrument such as a guitar, the frequencies of the notes in the pentatonic scale depend on the length of the string, tension, and linear density, which are the same factors that determine the fundamental frequencies of the open strings (high E, B, G, D, A, low E). By pressing down on the strings at different frets, a player effectively changes the length of the strings, thus altering the pitch to create the pentatonic scale. The standard notes of the six-string guitar are tuned to specific frequencies to produce the fundamental tones when plucked.