E blues scale
The E minor pentatonic plus a sixth note: the flat fifth, or “blue note.” It’s what gives the blues its color, slipped in between the fourth and the fifth.
- Notes:
- E, G, A, B♭, B, D.
- Formula:
- 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 5, ♭7.
- Style:
- Blues, rock, jazz.
- Difficulty:
- Beginner.
On the neck
Every note of the scale on the neck (choose 12, 15 or 19 frets). Click to listen.
High E at the top, just like in tab.Neck seen from the front, headstock at the top: low E on the left, just like a chord diagram.
Play the scale notes over it. Open in the Studio
Chords that go with it
The chords built on the notes of the scale: improvise with this scale over any progression that uses them.
Progressions to use it on
Loop the first one and improvise over it:
All 5 positions
These are the five minor pentatonic positions, plus the blue note (in purple) wherever it falls in the position. Position 1 starts on the root, on the 6th string.
Position 1: frets 0 to 3
It also works an octave higher, frets 12 to 15.
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------0-3-| B|---------------------0-3-----| G|---------------0-2-3---------| D|-----------0-2---------------| A|-----0-1-2-------------------| E|-0-3-------------------------|
Position 2: frets 2 to 5
It also works an octave higher, frets 14 to 17.
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-----------------------3-5-| B|-------------------3-5-----| G|-------------2-3-4---------| D|---------2-5---------------| A|-----2-5-------------------| E|-3-5-----------------------|
Position 3: frets 4 to 8
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------5-6-7-| B|---------------------5-8-------| G|-----------------4-7-----------| D|-----------5-7-8---------------| A|-------5-7---------------------| E|-5-6-7-------------------------|
Position 4: frets 7 to 10
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|--------------------------7-10-| B|---------------------8-10------| G|-----------------7-9-----------| D|-----------7-8-9---------------| A|------7-10---------------------| E|-7-10--------------------------|
Position 5: frets 9 to 12
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|--------------------------------10-12-| B|-----------------------10-11-12-------| G|------------------9-12----------------| D|-------------9-12---------------------| A|-------10-12--------------------------| E|-10-12--------------------------------|