Penta is Greek for 5. The pentatonic scale consists of 5 notes.
The minor pentatonic scale contains the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th note of the 'normal' minor scale (Aeolian).
D minor contains D, F, G, A and C.
The major pentatonic scale contains the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th en 6th note of the 'normal' major scale (Ionian).
D major contains D, E, F#, A and B.
The positions
To play the different positions of the pentatonic scale, we only use the notes from the original pentatonic scale. In this example: D minor pentatonic.
With each position we start on a different note from that scale.
D minor pentatonic - 2nd postion (= F major pentatonic).
As mentioned, the second position of the minor pentatonic scale is the major pentatonic scale.
So we can deduce that the 5th position of the major pentatonic scale is the minor pentatonic scale.
