Box 1 frets 0-3
Tab, going up
e|---------------------0-3-| B|-----------------0-3-----| G|-------------0-2---------| D|---------0-2-------------| A|-----0-2-----------------| E|-0-3---------------------|
E Minor Pentatonic Scale on Guitar
E G A B D 1 b3 4 5 b7 5 boxes Box 1 at frets 0-3
Scale diagrams
How to play the E Minor Pentatonic scale on guitar
The minor pentatonic is the first scale most guitarists learn for soloing: five notes, two per string, and the backbone of rock, blues and metal lead guitar. Box 1, with the root under the index finger, is the shape everybody starts with. On the guitar it falls into 5 boxes. Box 1 starts on the root, frets 0-3. The root E is at fret 0 and 12 on the low E string and fret 7 on the A string.
Box 2 frets 2-5
Tab, going up
e|---------------------3-5-| B|-----------------3-5-----| G|-------------2-4---------| D|---------2-5-------------| A|-----2-5-----------------| E|-3-5---------------------|
Box 3 frets 4-8
Tab, going up
e|---------------------5-7-| B|-----------------5-8-----| G|-------------4-7---------| D|---------5-7-------------| A|-----5-7-----------------| E|-5-7---------------------|
Box 4 frets 7-10
Tab, going up
e|------------------------7-10-| B|-------------------8-10------| G|---------------7-9-----------| D|-----------7-9---------------| A|------7-10-------------------| E|-7-10------------------------|
Box 5 frets 9-12
Tab, going up
e|-----------------------------10-12-| B|-----------------------10-12-------| G|------------------9-12-------------| D|-------------9-12------------------| A|-------10-12-----------------------| E|-10-12-----------------------------|
Strings from the low E (left) to the high E (right), frets numbered on the left. Magenta dots are the root, E. The tab under each diagram plays the position from its lowest note to its highest; play it back down the same way.
Whole neck
Every E Minor Pentatonic note up to the 15th fret
The boxes above are slices of this map. They overlap: the highest notes of one are the lowest notes of the next, so once you know two neighbours you can slide from one to the other along a string.
Notes
What notes are in the E Minor Pentatonic scale?
5 notes: E G A B D. In whole (W) and half (H) steps: W+H W W W+H W. With no half steps between its notes, nothing in it sounds wrong against the chords of the key.
| Note | Degree | Interval from the root | Half steps | Fret on the low E string |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | 1 | Root | 0 | 0 |
| G | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 | 3 |
| A | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 | 5 |
| B | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 | 7 |
| D | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 | 10 |
Practice
How to use and practise it
Learn Box 1 until you can play it without looking, then add Box 2 above it. Bend the 4th up to the 5th and the minor 7th up to the root: those two bends are the sound of rock guitar.
Same notes, another root: G major pentatonic. The shapes on the neck are the same; only the note you start and end on changes.
The blues scale adds one note, the flat five, between the 4th and the 5th. Compare the two: E blues.
Set the tempo low, play each position up and down with the button above, then try it yourself at the same speed. Raise the tempo by 4 BPM only when it is clean.
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the E Minor Pentatonic scale?
Going up: E, G, A, B, D, then E an octave higher. Its formula is 1 b3 4 5 b7.
How do you play the E Minor Pentatonic scale on guitar?
Start with box 1, frets 0-3: the root E is under your open low E string on the low E string. Play two notes on each string (three where the blue note falls), from the low E to the high E, then back down. The diagrams and tabs on this page show all 5 boxes.
Where is E on the guitar?
On the low E string at fret 0 and 12, on the A string at fret 7. Those two root notes anchor most scale positions and barre chords.
What is the difference between the minor pentatonic and the blues scale?
The blues scale adds one note, the flat five, between the 4th and the 5th.
Keep playing
Loop a groove, then solo in E Minor Pentatonic
The guitar on this page is free, with no account. GOONS Studio adds a backing band in the browser - drum machines, a bass synth, a sampled piano and a sequencer - so you can loop a groove and solo over it, with a 7-day free trial, no card required.