Explore scales · Guitar
E♭ minor pentatonic scale on guitar
E♭ minor pentatonic contains E♭, G♭, A♭, B♭, and D♭. Box 1 at frets 2–4 places the root on string 5, fret 6 for a low, dark start.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭7
How do you play the E♭ minor pentatonic scale on guitar?
E♭ minor pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 2 to fret 4, 9 notes across 6 strings, from G♭ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the B string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4 | D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 4 | G♭ |
| 3 (G) | 3 | B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
E♭ minor pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 11 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the A string at fret 6 and the B string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | G♭, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6 | D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 7 | E♭, G♭ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
E♭ minor pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 12 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the A string at fret 6 and the G string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 9 | B♭, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 9 | E♭, G♭ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9 | G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 9 | B♭, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–11
E♭ minor pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 11, 10 notes across 6 strings, from D♭ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the low E string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11 | G♭, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11 | D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 11 | G♭ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
E♭ minor pentatonic in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 12 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to G♭ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the low E string at fret 11, the D string at fret 13 and the high e string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 14 | E♭, G♭ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13 | A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 13 | G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 14 | B♭, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 14 | E♭, G♭ |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ minor pentatonic drops the 2nd and 6th from E♭ natural minor, leaving 1, ♭3, 4, 5, and ♭7. Add the ♭5 to get E♭ blues minor. The step pattern is 1½, W, W, 1½, W.
When to use it
E♭ minor pentatonic fits E♭ minor and E♭ 5th chords. Use it over E♭ minor, F♯ major, and A♭ 5th progressions in rock and blues. The D♭ note also works over C♯ 5th.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It covers frets 2–4 with the root on string 5, fret 6, giving a low, dark foundation for blues lines.
Common questions
What notes are in E♭ minor pentatonic?
E♭ minor pentatonic contains E♭, G♭, A♭, B♭, and D♭. The intervals are 1, ♭3, 4, 5, and ♭7. It omits the 2nd and 6th from E♭ natural minor. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit E♭ minor pentatonic?
E♭ minor pentatonic fits E♭ minor and E♭ 5th chords. It also works over F♯ major and A♭ 5th. The D♭ note allows C♯ 5th in some contexts.
How is E♭ minor pentatonic different from E♭ blues minor?
E♭ blues minor adds a ♭5 (B♭♭) to E♭ minor pentatonic. The pentatonic has five notes; the blues has six. The extra note creates chromatic passing motion.