Six Strings
In this section: Scales
Scales

E major pentatonic

A five-note scale built on E: root, second, major third, fifth and sixth. A bright, happy sound you’ll hear all over country, folk and pop.

Notes
E, F♯, G♯, B, C♯
Formula
1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Style
Country, folk, pop, rock
Difficulty
Beginner

On the neck

Every note of the scale on the neck (choose 12, 15 or 19 frets). Click to listen.

EF♯G♯BC♯EF♯G♯BBC♯EF♯G♯BC♯EEF♯G♯BC♯EF♯G♯G♯BC♯EF♯G♯BC♯BC♯EF♯G♯BC♯EF♯EF♯G♯BC♯EF♯G♯B
EF♯G♯BC♯EBC♯EF♯G♯EF♯G♯BC♯G♯BC♯EF♯BC♯EF♯G♯BEF♯G♯BC♯E

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.

E (root note)

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.

E majorI
F♯ minorii
G♯ minoriii
A majorIV
B majorV
C♯ minorvi

Progressions to use it on

I, V, vi, IV: the pop progression
I, IV, V: the backbone of folk and rock
I, vi, IV, V: the ’50s progression

▶ Play it in the Studio

Loop the first one and improvise over it:

The pop strumE · B · C♯m · A

Learn the pop strum step by step →

All 5 positions

Each position covers all six strings, with two notes per string. Position 1 starts on the root, on the 6th string.

Position 1: frets 11 to 14

EF♯G♯BC♯EF♯G♯BC♯EF♯

High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.

e|-------------------------------12-14-|
B|-------------------------12-14-------|
G|-------------------11-13-------------|
D|-------------11-14-------------------|
A|-------11-14-------------------------|
E|-12-14-------------------------------|

Position 2: frets 1 to 5

It also works an octave higher, frets 13 to 17.

EF♯G♯BC♯EF♯G♯G♯BC♯BC♯EEF♯G♯

High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.

e|---------------------2-4-|
B|-----------------2-5-----|
G|-------------1-4---------|
D|---------2-4-------------|
A|-----2-4-----------------|
E|-2-4---------------------|

Position 3: frets 4 to 7

G♯BC♯EF♯G♯BC♯EF♯G♯B

High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.

e|---------------------4-7-|
B|-----------------5-7-----|
G|-------------4-6---------|
D|---------4-6-------------|
A|-----4-7-----------------|
E|-4-7---------------------|

Position 4: frets 6 to 9

BC♯EF♯G♯BC♯EEF♯G♯BC♯

High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.

e|---------------------7-9-|
B|-----------------7-9-----|
G|-------------6-9---------|
D|---------6-9-------------|
A|-----7-9-----------------|
E|-7-9---------------------|

Position 5: frets 9 to 12

C♯EF♯G♯BC♯EF♯G♯G♯BC♯E

High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.

e|--------------------------9-12-|
B|---------------------9-12------|
G|----------------9-11-----------|
D|-----------9-11----------------|
A|------9-11---------------------|
E|-9-12--------------------------|