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 with note names

Shape 1 (12th position) with fingerings

Shape 2 (2nd position) with fingerings

Shape 3 (4th position) with fingerings

Shape 4 (7th position) with fingerings

Shape 5 (9th position) with fingerings

Open position

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:
- Em
- G
- Am7
- Bm7
- D5
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:E Pentatonic Minor scale first shape ascending.

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