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E minor pentatonic scale

It has 5 notes: E G A B D. Formula: 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7.

Degree1♭345♭7
NoteEGABD

Patterns

Strings run like tab: high e on top. Numbers are scale degrees; amber dots are the root.

Box 1Open position, frets 0–3 · root E
eBGDAE1231b345b71b345b71b3
Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 0 (1), 3 (b3)
  • B: 0 (5), 3 (b7)
  • G: 0 (b3), 2 (4)
  • D: 0 (b7), 2 (1)
  • A: 0 (4), 2 (5)
  • E: 0 (1), 3 (b3)
Box 2Frets 2–5 · root E
eBGDAE2345b345b71b345b71b34
Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 3 (b3), 5 (4)
  • B: 3 (b7), 5 (1)
  • G: 2 (4), 4 (5)
  • D: 2 (1), 5 (b3)
  • A: 2 (5), 5 (b7)
  • E: 3 (b3), 5 (4)
Box 3Frets 4–8 · root E
eBGDAE4567845b71b345b71b345
Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 5 (4), 7 (5)
  • B: 5 (1), 8 (b3)
  • G: 4 (5), 7 (b7)
  • D: 5 (b3), 7 (4)
  • A: 5 (b7), 7 (1)
  • E: 5 (4), 7 (5)
Box 4Frets 7–10 · root E
eBGDAE789105b71b345b71b345b7
Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 7 (5), 10 (b7)
  • B: 8 (b3), 10 (4)
  • G: 7 (b7), 9 (1)
  • D: 7 (4), 9 (5)
  • A: 7 (1), 10 (b3)
  • E: 7 (5), 10 (b7)
Box 5Frets 9–12 · root E
eBGDAE9101112b71b345b71b345b71
Notes per string (fret and degree)
  • e: 10 (b7), 12 (1)
  • B: 10 (4), 12 (5)
  • G: 9 (1), 12 (b3)
  • D: 9 (5), 12 (b7)
  • A: 10 (b3), 12 (4)
  • E: 10 (b7), 12 (1)

Same notes, different home

These scales use exactly the same notes, centered on a different root.

Chords it fits

This scale in other keys

Other scales in E

Learn it in the course