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Scales

E major pentatonic scale

The E major pentatonic scale notes: E – F♯ – G♯ – B – C♯. Five notes with no half steps: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6. Bright and open – country, pop and rock solos love it.

Notes and steps

E1F♯2G♯3B5C♯6

Steps: W – W – W+H – W – W+H · W = whole step, H = half step

E major pentatonic scale on guitar

Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Filled circles are the root.

E major pentatonic scale on the guitar fretboardEF♯G♯BC♯EBC♯EF♯G♯EF♯G♯BC♯G♯BC♯EF♯BC♯EF♯G♯BEF♯G♯BC♯E357912

E major pentatonic scale on piano

E major pentatonic scale on the piano keyboardEBEBC♯F♯G♯C♯F♯G♯

Other scales from E

The same scale from other notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the E major pentatonic scale?

E, F♯, G♯, B, C♯. Step formula: W–W–W+H–W–W+H (W = whole step, H = half step).

How do I practise it on guitar?

Every circle on the fretboard is a note of the scale up to fret 12; the filled circles mark the root (E). Start in one position (within 4–5 frets), root to root, slowly, with a metronome.

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Photos: Isak Photography, 42 North, Rachel Loughman, Vitaly Gariev, Vitaly Gariev, Isaac Martin / Unsplash