Explore scales · Ukulele
E♭ minor pentatonic scale on ukulele
E♭ minor pentatonic contains E♭, G♭, A♭, B♭, and D♭. Box 1 places the root on string 3, fret 3 and string 1, fret 6 for a low-position start.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭7
How do you play the E♭ minor pentatonic scale on ukulele?
E♭ minor pentatonic in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 8 notes across 4 strings, from D♭ on the C string at fret 1 up to D♭ on the A string at fret 4. The root falls on the C string at fret 3.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (C) | 1, 3 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (E) | 2, 4 | G♭, A♭ |
| 1 (A) | 1, 4 | B♭, D♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E♭ minor pentatonic in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 8 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the C string at fret 3 up to E♭ on the A string at fret 6. The root falls on the C string at fret 3 and the A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3, 6 | B♭, D♭ |
| 3 (C) | 3, 6 | E♭, G♭ |
| 2 (E) | 4, 6 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
E♭ minor pentatonic in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 8 notes across 4 strings, from G♭ on the C string at fret 6 up to G♭ on the A string at fret 9. The root falls on the G string at fret 8 and the A string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (C) | 6, 8 | G♭, A♭ |
| 2 (E) | 6, 9 | B♭, D♭ |
| 1 (A) | 6, 9 | E♭, G♭ |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
E♭ minor pentatonic in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 8 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the C string at fret 8 up to A♭ on the A string at fret 11. The root falls on the G string at fret 8 and the E string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8, 11 | E♭, G♭ |
| 3 (C) | 8, 10 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (A) | 9, 11 | G♭, A♭ |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ minor pentatonic removes the second and sixth degrees from E♭ natural minor, leaving 1, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭7. The intervals are 0, 3, 5, 7, 10 semitones, with steps of 1½, whole, whole, 1½, whole. Add the ♭5 to form the E♭ blues minor scale.
When to use it
E♭ minor pentatonic fits E♭ minor and E♭ 5th chords, and works over rock and metal progressions in E♭ minor. The scale’s flat third and seventh provide a strong minor tonality.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first: the root sits on string 3, fret 3, covering frets 1–4 with a compact four-fret span.
Common questions
What notes are in E♭ minor pentatonic?
E♭ minor pentatonic contains E♭, G♭, A♭, B♭, and D♭. The scale omits the second and sixth degrees of E♭ natural minor. This five-note set is common in rock and metal soloing. 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 G♭ major and A♭ 5th in a progression. The scale avoids notes that clash with these chords.
How does E♭ minor pentatonic relate to E♭ blues minor?
E♭ minor pentatonic adds a ♭5 to become E♭ blues minor. The blues scale has six notes instead of five. That extra note is the blue note between the fourth and fifth.