E major pentatonic scale
Notes in the scaleTap one to hear it and find it on the neck
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 5
- 6
Every E major pentatonic note on the neck.
The E major pentatonic scale
The major pentatonic drops the 4th and 7th from the major scale, which removes both half steps. With no notes that clash, it is hard to hit a wrong note, so it is a common first scale for soloing in country, pop and rock.
Its relative minor is C♯ minor pentatonic, which uses the same notes starting from C♯.
- Notes
- E F♯ G♯ B C♯
- Formula
- 1 2 3 5 6
- Steps
- W W W+H W W+H
- W is two frets, H is one fret
E major pentatonic scale positions
Five boxes cover the whole neck. Each one fits under your hand without shifting. They overlap: the top of one box is the bottom of the next.
Position 1
Frets 9 to 12. Starts on C♯, the 6, on the lowest string. Same shape as C♯ minor pentatonic box 1. Learn this one first.Position 2
Frets 11 to 14. Starts on E, the root, on the lowest string. Same shape as C♯ minor pentatonic box 2.Position 3
Frets 13 to 17. Starts on F♯, the 2, on the lowest string. Same shape as C♯ minor pentatonic box 3.Position 4
Frets 4 to 7. Starts on G♯, the 3, on the lowest string. Same shape as C♯ minor pentatonic box 4.Position 5
Frets 6 to 9. Starts on B, the 5, on the lowest string. Same shape as C♯ minor pentatonic box 5.
Chords in E major
The E major pentatonic scale works over the chords of E major.