E Pentatonic Major
E pentatonic scale for guitar.
The E Pentatonic Major is a five-note scale. The diagram shows a fingerboard with the scale notes. Darker color marks the root notes, which are E tones. In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 12th fret.
E Pentatonic Major 2 octaves

E Pentatonic Major full fretboard

E Pentatonic Major with note names

Shape 1 (11th position)

Shape 5 (9th position)

The scale and its scale degrees.
Formula | Notes |
---|---|
1 | E |
2 | F# |
3 | G# |
5 | B |
6 | C# |
The fourth degree is omitted, as well as the seventh, since the degrees are based on the regular Major seven-note scale.
The interval formula (2 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3) can be expound into specific notes of the scale.
Notes (ascending) | Interval |
---|---|
E-F# | M2 |
E-G# | M3 |
E-B | P5 |
E-C# | M6 |
Notes (descending) | Interval |
---|---|
E-C# | m3 |
E-B | P4 |
E-G# | m6 |
E-F# | m7 |
Abbreviations are used: M / m stands for major / minor and P stands for perfect.
The notes in the scale can be described as intervals, written as 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 from the first note to the first in next octave.
The E Pentatonic Major is relative to C# Pentatonic Minor. Both scales include the same notes but with different root notes.
Some of the chords that are related to this scale are listed here:
- E
- F#m7
- G#m7
- Bsus4
- C#m
The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the E Pentatonic Major scale. Notice that the match is not completely exact, the third (A) in F#m7 and the fifth (D#) in G#m7 are not included in the scale.
Related to this scale is the E Pentatonic Major add4, adding the 4th degree. It can be displayed as follows:
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 |
The E Pentatonic Major add4 scale, is identical with the E Major except for missing the major 7th interval.
Start the audio and play along! Use notes from the scale in the diagram above.
Normal tempo:E Pentatonic Major scale first shape ascending.

The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings.