E Pentatonic Minor

Em pentatonic scale for guitar.
The E Pentatonic Minor is a five-note scale. The diagram shows a fingerboard with the notes in the scale. Darker color marks the root notes. In the two-octave pattern, the first root note is on the 6th string, 12th fret.

E Pentatonic Minor 2 octaves

E Pentatonic Minor full fretboard

E Pentatonic Minor scale whole guitar neck diagram

E Pentatonic Minor with note names

E Pentatonic Minor scale with note letters diagram

Shape 1 (12th position) with fingerings

E Pentatonic Minor scale shape 1 diagram

Shape 2 (2nd position) with fingerings

E Pentatonic Minor scale shape 2 diagram

Shape 3 (4th position) with fingerings

E Pentatonic Minor scale shape 3 diagram

Shape 4 (7th position) with fingerings

E Pentatonic Minor scale shape 4 diagram

Shape 5 (9th position) with fingerings

E Pentatonic Minor scale shape 5 diagram

Open position

Notes: E - G - A - B - D Intervals: 3 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 Type: Pentatonic

Eb Pentatonic Minor scale • F Pentatonic Minor scale

The scale and its scale degrees.

Formula	Notes
1	E
b3	G
4	A
5	B
b7	D

The second and the sixth degrees are omitted, for the reason that the degrees are based on the natural Minor seven-note scale.

The interval formula (3 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 2) can be expound into specific notes of the scale.

Notes (ascending)	Interval
E-G	m3
E-A	P4
E-B	P5
E-D	m7

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

Notes (descending)	Interval
E-D	M2
E-B	P4
E-A	P5
E-G	M6

The notes in the scale can be described as intervals, written as 3 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 2 from the first note to the first in next octave.
The E Pentatonic Minor is relative to G Pentatonic Major. Both scales include the same notes but has different root notes.

Some of the chords that are related to this scale are listed here:

The tones in these chords correspond to the tones of the E Pentatonic Minor scale. Notice that the match is not completely exact, the third (C) in Am7 and the fifth (F#) in Bm7 are not included in the scale.

Related to this scale is the E Pentatonic Minor add2, adding the 2nd degree. It can be displayed as follows:

Formula	Notes	Intervals	Degrees
1	E	Unison	Tonic
2	F#	Major second	Supertonic
b3	G	Minor third	Mediant
4	A	Perfect fourth	Subdominant
5	B	Perfect fifth	Dominant
b7	D	Minor seventh	Subtonic

The E Pentatonic Minor add2 scale, is identical with the E Minor except for missing the major 6th interval.

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

Normal tempo:

Slow tempo:

E Pentatonic Minor scale first shape ascending.

The numbers above the tablature are suggested fingerings (zero means open string).

Exercises based on E Pentatonic Minor.

Scale shapes in open position (tab & standard notation)