technically a scale means a series of pitches (notes) placed in a fixed order, and penta means 5...so yes, a pentatonic scale is a scale. As guitar players we often think in patterns to get around the neck of the guitar, because the guitar is not as visual as lets say a piano.

Another misconception is that pentatonic is a vauge term an can be applied to any 5 note scale. There are many pentatonic scales, but we usually think of the pentatonic minor as "thee pentatonic" because it is that predominant sound of a minor scale applied overtop a major chord progression that fuels the music of rock & blues.

As far as Scottish music being based off pentatonics, I dunno (isn't Danny Boy a Scottish tune?) I know a lot of ethnic music is based off pentatonics. Here's a Japaneese motif you might recognize;

-17-17-17-17--15-15-12-12-15--17-15------------
-15-15-15-15--13-13-10-10-13--------18-15-------
------------------------------------------17-14--
-----------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------

the scale played on the end is a minor penta. starting & stopping on the 4th note

[Edited by chris mood on 09-21-2001 at 01:11 PM]