E Major

E Major scale for guitar.
The E Major is a seven-note scale. Notes are displayed in the fingerboard diagram with blue color with the root notes indicated by darker color. The root notes are always E tones. In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 12th fret.

E Major 2 octaves

E Major scale diagram

E Major full fretboard

E Major scale whole guitar neck diagram

E Major note names

E Major scale with note letters diagram

Shape 1 (11th position) with fingerings

E Major scale shape diagram 11th pos

Shape 2 (2nd position) with fingerings

E Major scale shape diagram 2nd pos

Shape 3 (4th position) with fingerings

E Major scale shape diagram 4th pos

Shape 4 (6th position) with fingerings

E Major scale shape diagram 6th pos

Shape 5 (8th position) with fingerings

E Major scale shape diagram 8th pos

E Major in open position

E Major in open position scale diagram

Root on 5th string

E Major scale diagram
Notes: E - F# - G# - A - B - C# - D# Intervals: 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 Type: Septonic 
Eb Major scale  •  F Major scale

The scale displayed with its numeric formula and scale degrees.

Formula Notes Intervals Degrees
1 E Unison Tonic
2 F# Major second Supertonic
3 G# Major third Mediant
4 A Perfect fourth Subdominant
5 B Perfect fifth Dominant
6 C# Sixth Submediant
7 D#Major seventh Leading tone

The interval formula (2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1) can be expound into specific notes of the scale.

Notes (ascending) Interval
E-F# M2
E-G# M3
E-A P4
E-B P5
E-C# M6
E-D# M7
Notes (descending) Interval
E-D# m2
E-C# m3
E-B P4
E-A P5
E-G# m6
E-F# m7

Abbreviations are used: M / m stands for major / minor and P stands for perfect.

The main three-note and four-note chords that are related to this scale are the following:

Chord Fingering Chord Fingering
Chord Fingering Chord Fingering
E 022100 Emaj7 021100
F#m 244222 F#m7 242222
G#m 466444 G#m7 464444
A X02220 Amaj7 X02120
B X24442 B7 X21202
C#m X46654 C#m7 X46454
D#dim X6787X D#m7b5 X6767X

The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the E Major scale in which E is the tonic triad and Emaj7 the tonic 7th chord.
The second and fourth columns include short notations for the chords in the first and third columns respectively. These are based on common ways to play the chord, but there are other alternatives. See more about this notation system on the FAQ page.

The E Major consists of seven notes (E - F# - G# - A - B - C# - D#). These can be described as intervals, as semi-notes or steps on the guitar fingerboard, written as 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 from the first note to the next octave.
The scale can be played on the guitar from different starting positions in which E functions as the tonic. It can be played in open position by starting from the open low E string and continue to the open high E string.
The E Major is relative to C# Minor, which means that both scales include the same notes but with different tonal center.
The E Major is identical with the E Ionian mode.

Start the audio and play along with your guitar! Use notes from the scale in the diagram above.

Normal tempo:
Slow tempo:

All Major Scale jam tracks

Three notes per string exercise based on E Major scale.

E Major scale tab

The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.

The E scale presented in sheet music notation.

E Major scale with musical notes

The sheet music includes two octaves played ascending and descending. In musical notation, the key of E is indicated by its key signature with four sharps.

Exercises based on E Major scale.

Exercise 1 (tab & standard notation)

Studies based on E Major scale.

Study 1 (tab & standard notation)

Study 2 (tab & standard notation)

Study 3 (tab & standard notation)