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Guitar scales · Major pentatonic

E major pentatonic scale on guitar

The E major has five notes: E, F♯, G♯, B and C♯. As degrees: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.

Notes and pattern

The E major pentatonic scale

Five notes, no . Country, folk and sweet rock melodies. Play it to hear it up and down.

From note to note it climbs 2, 2, 3, 2 and 3 : there are no , which is why it is so hard to hit a wrong note.

E major has the same notes as C♯ minor pentatonic, starting from E. See that scale.

  1. E1
  2. F♯2
  3. G♯3
  4. B5
  5. C♯6
EADGBE0135791215EEEEEEEEEF♯G♯BC♯F♯BC♯F♯G♯BF♯G♯BC♯G♯BC♯F♯G♯BC♯F♯G♯BC♯F♯G♯BC♯F♯
  • E, the root
  • Other scale notes

Positions

E major pentatonic in five positions

The splits the neck into five overlapping positions, one per shape. Learn one, then join it to the next.

E major · the whole neck

Five positions, each overlapping the next, repeating every 12 frets.

EEDDCAGGEADGBE0135791215EEEEEEEEEF♯G♯BC♯F♯BC♯F♯G♯BF♯G♯BC♯G♯BC♯F♯G♯BC♯F♯G♯BC♯F♯G♯BC♯F♯
  • Root (E)
  • Pentatonic tone

Chords

What to play E major pentatonic over

Play it over songs in E major or C♯ minor. Over a blues in E (E7, A7 and B7) it gives a sweeter, country sound than the minor .

Same root

Change a note or two and the same takes on a new mood.

Questions

E major pentatonic, in short

What notes are in the E major pentatonic scale?
The E major has five notes: E, F♯, G♯, B and C♯. As degrees: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.
What chords go with the E major pentatonic scale?
Play it over songs in E major or C♯ minor. Over a blues in E (E7, A7 and B7) it gives a sweeter, country sound than the minor pentatonic.
What is the relative minor of E major pentatonic?
E major pentatonic has the same notes as C♯ minor pentatonic, starting from E.
All guitar scales