E Major Pentatonic Scale (E F♯ G♯ B C♯)
E major pentatonic is the Allman Brothers' sunny side. Blue Sky solos inside it nearly start to finish. E F♯ G♯ B C♯, with the low E, B, and high E ringing open.
Fretboard diagram
Every E major pentatonic note from the open strings to fret 22. At fret 12 the map starts over an octave up.
Notes in this scale
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | E |
| 2 | major second | F♯ |
| 3 | major third | G♯ |
| 5 | perfect fifth | B |
| 6 | major sixth | C♯ |
Where to land
A lead that never touches its root is an exercise. In the first twelve frets E sits on the low E string open and at fret 12, the A string at fret 7, the D string at fret 2, the G string at fret 9, the B string at fret 5, and the high E string open and at fret 12. End phrases on one of them until it's automatic, then start aiming for whichever chord tone the band is sitting on instead.
Over an E major chord, E, G♯, and B are chord tones and land clean anywhere in the bar. The C♯ sits close enough to the fifth to resolve down into it, which is the classic country move.
Keep exploring
Same root
Same notes
C♯ minor pentatonic is these five notes with C♯ as home. Same frets, different landing spots.
Chords it fits over
E, Emaj7, and E7 when the song is country or major-key blues.
Nearby keys
E major pentatonic FAQ
What notes are in the E major pentatonic scale?
E major pentatonic contains E, F♯, G♯, B, and C♯. That's the root, the major second, the major third, the perfect fifth, and the major sixth.
What fret does E major pentatonic start on?
At the nut. The open low E string is a root, and the scale covers the whole neck from there. Everything repeats twelve frets higher.
What is the difference between E major and E minor pentatonic?
E major pentatonic is E F♯ G♯ B C♯. E minor pentatonic is E G A B D. They share only the root and the fifth, and major-key country and minor-key blues split along exactly that line.