E scottish pentatonic scale on guitar

E scottish pentatonic uses E, F♯, A, B, C♯. Box 1 spans frets 0–2 and places the root on the fourth string.

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it is built

E1F♯2A4B5C♯6

Formula 1, 2, 4, 5, 6

How do you play the E scottish pentatonic scale on guitar?

E scottish pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 2, 10 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)	2	E
3 (G)	2	A
2 (B)	0, 2	B, C♯
1 (e)	0, 2	E, F♯

Box 2 · frets 2–5

E scottish pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 12 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, 5	F♯, A
5 (A)	2, 4	B, C♯
4 (D)	2, 4	E, F♯
3 (G)	2, 4	A, B
2 (B)	2, 5	C♯, E
1 (e)	2, 5	F♯, A

Box 3 · frets 5–7

E scottish pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 7, 9 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 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)	5, 7	A, B
5 (A)	7	E
4 (D)	7	A
3 (G)	6	C♯
2 (B)	5, 7	E, F♯
1 (e)	5, 7	A, B

Box 4 · frets 7–10

E scottish pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 11 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)	9	E
2 (B)	7, 10	F♯, A
1 (e)	7, 9	B, C♯

Box 5 · frets 9–12

E scottish 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, 12	F♯, A
4 (D)	9, 11	B, C♯
3 (G)	9, 11	E, F♯
2 (B)	10, 12	A, B
1 (e)	9, 12	C♯, E

Why it sounds like that

Derive it from E major pentatonic by raising the third G♯ to A, yielding 1–2–4–5–6. The step pattern W, 1½, W, W, 1½ creates a wide gap between F♯ and A. See E major pentatonic for comparison; the raised third becomes the fourth.

When to use it

Use it over E5 and Esus2 chords for a suspended sound. It also fits F♯ minor and A major progressions in rock or folk. Try E 5th and A major.

Which position to practise

Start with Box 1. It covers frets 0–2 with the root on string 4, fret 2, giving a low anchor for phrases.

Common questions

What notes are in E scottish pentatonic?

The notes are E, F♯, A, B, and C♯. They follow the intervals 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 from the E major scale. This omits the third and seventh degrees.

Which chords work with E scottish pentatonic?

E5 and Esus2 are the most direct fits because they avoid the third. F♯ minor and A major also work well, since they share most of the scale tones. Use it over progressions in E major or C♯ minor.

How does E scottish pentatonic differ from E major pentatonic?

E major pentatonic contains G♯, the major third. E scottish pentatonic replaces G♯ with A, the fourth. This creates a suspended sound without a third.