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E major pentatonic scale on guitar
E major pentatonic uses E, F♯, G♯, B, and C♯. Box 1 spans frets 0–2 with roots on the fourth and second strings.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
How do you play the E major pentatonic scale on guitar?
E major pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 2, 9 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 2. The root falls on the low E string at fret 0, the D string at fret 2 and the high e string at fret 0.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 2 | E, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 2 | B |
| 4 (D) | 2 | E |
| 3 (G) | 1 | G♯ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 2 | B, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 2 | E, F♯ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
E major pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 11 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to G♯ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the D string at fret 2 and the B string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
| 5 (A) | 2, 4 | B, C♯ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 4 | E, F♯ |
| 3 (G) | 4 | B |
| 2 (B) | 2, 5 | C♯, E |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
E major pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 12 notes across 6 strings, from G♯ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the A string at fret 7 and the B string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 7 | G♯, B |
| 5 (A) | 4, 7 | C♯, E |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | F♯, G♯ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6 | B, C♯ |
| 2 (B) | 5, 7 | E, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 7 | G♯, B |
Box 4 · frets 7–9
E major pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 9, 10 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to C♯ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the A string at fret 7 and the G string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 7, 9 | E, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 9 | B |
| 3 (G) | 9 | E |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9 | F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
E major pentatonic in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 12 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the low E string at fret 12, the G string at fret 9 and the high e string at fret 12.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 12 | C♯, E |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11 | F♯, G♯ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11 | B, C♯ |
| 3 (G) | 9, 11 | E, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 12 | G♯, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 12 | C♯, E |
Why it sounds like that
E major pentatonic removes the fourth and seventh from E major, leaving intervals 1, 2, 3, 5, 6. The parent scale is E major. The omitted A and D♯ remove the tritone and leading tone, creating a stable, consonant sound.
When to use it
E major pentatonic fits E major and E 5th chords, and it also works over F♯ 5th and B 5th. Use it for rock, blues, and country in the key of E major. Try it over E major or E 5th.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. Its root on the fourth string, second fret gives a compact shape that connects to the open E chord.
Common questions
What notes are in E major pentatonic?
E major pentatonic contains E, F♯, G♯, B, and C♯. These are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th degrees of the E major scale. The fourth and seventh are omitted.
Which chords does E major pentatonic fit?
E major pentatonic fits E major and E 5th chords directly. It also works over F♯ 5th and B 5th in progressions. The scale avoids the fourth and seventh, so it rarely clashes.
Is E major pentatonic the same as C♯ minor pentatonic?
E major pentatonic shares the same notes as C♯ minor pentatonic. The difference is the tonal center: E major pentatonic resolves to E, while C♯ minor pentatonic resolves to C♯.