E major scale on guitar

E major uses the notes E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, and D♯. Box 1 spans frets 0–2 and places the root on the fourth string.

Positions on the neck1 of 6

Practice E major scale

How it is built

E1F♯2G♯3A4B5C♯6D♯7

Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

How do you play the E major scale on guitar?

E major in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 2, 12 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)	0, 2	A, B
4 (D)	1, 2	D♯, E
3 (G)	1, 2	G♯, A
2 (B)	0, 2	B, C♯
1 (e)	0, 2	E, F♯

Box 2 · frets 2–5

E major in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 15 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. 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, 5	F♯, G♯, A
5 (A)	2, 4	B, C♯
4 (D)	2, 4	E, F♯
3 (G)	2, 4	A, B
2 (B)	2, 4, 5	C♯, D♯, E
1 (e)	2, 4, 5	F♯, G♯, A

Box 3 · frets 4–7

E major in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 17 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, 5, 7	G♯, A, B
5 (A)	4, 6, 7	C♯, D♯, E
4 (D)	4, 6, 7	F♯, G♯, A
3 (G)	4, 6	B, C♯
2 (B)	4, 5, 7	D♯, E, F♯
1 (e)	4, 5, 7	G♯, A, B

Box 4 · frets 7–10

E major in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 13 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)	7, 9	A, B
3 (G)	8, 9	D♯, E
2 (B)	7, 9, 10	F♯, G♯, A
1 (e)	7, 9	B, C♯

Box 5 · frets 9–12

E major in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 16 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, 11, 12	C♯, D♯, E
5 (A)	9, 11, 12	F♯, G♯, A
4 (D)	9, 11	B, C♯
3 (G)	9, 11	E, F♯
2 (B)	9, 10, 12	G♯, A, B
1 (e)	9, 11, 12	C♯, D♯, E

Box 6 · frets 11–14

E major in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 17 notes across 6 strings, from D♯ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the low E string at fret 12, the D string at fret 14 and the high e string at fret 12.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
6 (E)	11, 12, 14	D♯, E, F♯
5 (A)	11, 12, 14	G♯, A, B
4 (D)	11, 13, 14	C♯, D♯, E
3 (G)	11, 13, 14	F♯, G♯, A
2 (B)	12, 14	B, C♯
1 (e)	11, 12, 14	D♯, E, F♯

Why it sounds like that

E major follows the whole-step, whole-step, half-step, whole-step, whole-step, whole-step, half-step pattern. The E major pentatonic drops the fourth and seventh degrees. The A and D♯ create the scale's characteristic leading-tone pull.

When to use it

E major fits E major and E 5th chords. It also works over the key's diatonic chords like A major and B major. Use it for rock, blues, and country lead lines.

Which position to practise

Practise Box 1 first. The root on string 4, fret 2 is a common starting point for E major phrases.

Common questions

What notes are in the E major scale?

E major contains E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, and D♯. The scale has four sharps. It is a popular key for guitar music.

Which chords fit the E major scale?

E major works over E major and E 5th chords. It also fits A major and B major. The seventh degree, D♯, leads strongly to E.

What is the relative minor of E major?

The relative minor of E major is C♯ minor. Both scales share the same key signature of four sharps. C♯ minor starts on the sixth degree of E major.