E major pentatonic scale
E major pentatonic scale is E – F♯ – G♯ – B – C♯, with F♯, G♯ and C♯. Formula 1 2 3 5 6. Play it, then slow the tempo until every note is clear.
The notes, one step at a time
The step pattern is W W W+H W W+H (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = a step and a half). With no half steps, any two notes of it sound fine together. The wide steps are G♯–B and C♯–E.
| Degree | Note | Interval from E | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | root | |
| 2 | F♯ | major second | |
| 3 | G♯ | major third | |
| 5 | B | perfect fifth | |
| 6 | C♯ | major sixth |
How the major pentatonic scale sounds
E major pentatonic drops the two notes of E major that create half steps, the 4th and the 7th. What's left can't clash with itself, which is why it's the first scale many guitarists improvise with over a E chord.
Its relative minor pentatonic starts on C♯: same five notes, different home.
E major pentatonic scale is E major scale without A and D♯. Hear E major scale and compare.
Where your hands go
On the piano it uses three black keys (F♯, G♯ and C♯) and two white.
The guitar box starts with the root open on the low E string and spans frets 0–5: 14 notes, low string to high, two per string.
What to play it over
These chords are built only from the scale's notes, so it sits over any of them: E, Esus2, E6, Eadd9, C♯m, C♯m7, F♯sus2, Bsus2, F♯sus4, Bsus4, C♯sus4.
E major pentatonic scale shares all its notes with C♯ minor pentatonic (starting on the 5th note, C♯). Which one you hear depends on which note the music treats as home.
Moving it around the guitar
Anchor points for E: low E string fret 0 and 12, A string fret 7 (0 = open string). Starting frets for the five shapes: 2, 4, 7, 9 and 12. Each shape shares its top notes with the next one up. With no half steps there are no clashing notes to avoid, which is why it is the first scale many guitarists improvise with.
On the piano, E major pentatonic scale uses 3 black keys (F♯, G♯ and C♯) and 2 white.
A good drill once the scale is under your fingers: play it in thirds, skipping one note each time. Here that's E–G♯, F♯–B, G♯–C♯, B–E, C♯–F♯.
Drills for E major pentatonic
Try these after the plain scale. Tap to hear each pattern at a steady speed, then play along.
- Groups of three: E F♯ G♯ · F♯ G♯ B · G♯ B C♯ · B C♯ E.
- Lean on C♯: E C♯ E C♯ E: the 6th keeps it sweet, with no half steps anywhere.
Scales to compare with E major pentatonic
Major pentatonic scale in every key
E major pentatonic scale: questions
What are the notes of the E major pentatonic scale?
E, F♯, G♯, B and C♯, then E again at the octave. Formula: 1 2 3 5 6.
How many sharps or flats are in the E major pentatonic scale?
Three: F♯, G♯ and C♯.
What's the difference between E major pentatonic scale and E major scale?
It leaves out A and D♯.
What chords go with the E major pentatonic scale?
Any chord built only from its notes, for example E, Esus2, E6, Eadd9, C♯m and C♯m7.
Notes and fingering generated from the scale formula and checked automatically against the step pattern. Updated September 2026.