E Minor Pentatonic Scale Charts
Explore E Minor Pentatonic across the full guitar fretboard and 5 connected positions. Notes: E, G, A, B, D. Intervals: 1, b3, 4, 5, b7.
E Minor Pentatonic full fretboard chart
E Minor Pentatonic uses E, G, A, B, D across frets 0-15.
| String | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | RE | b3G | 4A | 5B | b7D | RE | b3G | |||||||||
| 2B | 5B | b7D | RE | b3G | 4A | 5B | b7D | |||||||||
| 3G | b3G | 4A | 5B | b7D | RE | b3G | 4A | |||||||||
| 4D | b7D | RE | b3G | 4A | 5B | b7D | RE | |||||||||
| 5A | 4A | 5B | b7D | RE | b3G | 4A | 5B | |||||||||
| 6E | RE | b3G | 4A | 5B | b7D | RE | b3G | |||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
String 1: E4 at fret 0 (root), G4 at fret 3 (b3), A4 at fret 5 (4), B4 at fret 7 (5), D5 at fret 10 (b7), E5 at fret 12 (root), G5 at fret 15 (b3).
String 2: B3 at fret 0 (5), D4 at fret 3 (b7), E4 at fret 5 (root), G4 at fret 8 (b3), A4 at fret 10 (4), B4 at fret 12 (5), D5 at fret 15 (b7).
String 3: G3 at fret 0 (b3), A3 at fret 2 (4), B3 at fret 4 (5), D4 at fret 7 (b7), E4 at fret 9 (root), G4 at fret 12 (b3), A4 at fret 14 (4).
String 4: D3 at fret 0 (b7), E3 at fret 2 (root), G3 at fret 5 (b3), A3 at fret 7 (4), B3 at fret 9 (5), D4 at fret 12 (b7), E4 at fret 14 (root).
String 5: A2 at fret 0 (4), B2 at fret 2 (5), D3 at fret 5 (b7), E3 at fret 7 (root), G3 at fret 10 (b3), A3 at fret 12 (4), B3 at fret 14 (5).
String 6: E2 at fret 0 (root), G2 at fret 3 (b3), A2 at fret 5 (4), B2 at fret 7 (5), D3 at fret 10 (b7), E3 at fret 12 (root), G3 at fret 15 (b3).
E Minor Pentatonic Position 1 chart
Position 1 covers frets 12-15 for E Minor Pentatonic.
| String | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | RE | b3G | ||
| 2B | 5B | b7D | ||
| 3G | b3G | 4A | ||
| 4D | b7D | RE | ||
| 5A | 4A | 5B | ||
| 6E | RE | b3G | ||
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
String 1: E5 at fret 12 (root), G5 at fret 15 (b3).
String 2: B4 at fret 12 (5), D5 at fret 15 (b7).
String 3: G4 at fret 12 (b3), A4 at fret 14 (4).
String 4: D4 at fret 12 (b7), E4 at fret 14 (root).
String 5: A3 at fret 12 (4), B3 at fret 14 (5).
String 6: E3 at fret 12 (root), G3 at fret 15 (b3).
E Minor Pentatonic Position 2 chart
Position 2 covers frets 9-12 for E Minor Pentatonic.
| String | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | b7D | RE | ||
| 2B | 4A | 5B | ||
| 3G | RE | b3G | ||
| 4D | 5B | b7D | ||
| 5A | b3G | 4A | ||
| 6E | b7D | RE | ||
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
String 1: D5 at fret 10 (b7), E5 at fret 12 (root).
String 2: A4 at fret 10 (4), B4 at fret 12 (5).
String 3: E4 at fret 9 (root), G4 at fret 12 (b3).
String 4: B3 at fret 9 (5), D4 at fret 12 (b7).
String 5: G3 at fret 10 (b3), A3 at fret 12 (4).
String 6: D3 at fret 10 (b7), E3 at fret 12 (root).
E Minor Pentatonic Position 3 chart
Position 3 covers frets 7-10 for E Minor Pentatonic.
| String | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 5B | b7D | ||
| 2B | b3G | 4A | ||
| 3G | b7D | RE | ||
| 4D | 4A | 5B | ||
| 5A | RE | b3G | ||
| 6E | 5B | b7D | ||
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
String 1: B4 at fret 7 (5), D5 at fret 10 (b7).
String 2: G4 at fret 8 (b3), A4 at fret 10 (4).
String 3: D4 at fret 7 (b7), E4 at fret 9 (root).
String 4: A3 at fret 7 (4), B3 at fret 9 (5).
String 5: E3 at fret 7 (root), G3 at fret 10 (b3).
String 6: B2 at fret 7 (5), D3 at fret 10 (b7).
E Minor Pentatonic Position 4 chart
Position 4 covers frets 4-7 for E Minor Pentatonic.
| String | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 4A | 5B | |||
| 2B | RE | b3G | |||
| 3G | 5B | b7D | |||
| 4D | b3G | 4A | |||
| 5A | b7D | RE | |||
| 6E | 4A | 5B | |||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
String 1: A4 at fret 5 (4), B4 at fret 7 (5).
String 2: E4 at fret 5 (root), G4 at fret 8 (b3).
String 3: B3 at fret 4 (5), D4 at fret 7 (b7).
String 4: G3 at fret 5 (b3), A3 at fret 7 (4).
String 5: D3 at fret 5 (b7), E3 at fret 7 (root).
String 6: A2 at fret 5 (4), B2 at fret 7 (5).
E Minor Pentatonic Position 5 chart
Position 5 covers frets 2-5 for E Minor Pentatonic.
| String | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | b3G | 4A | ||
| 2B | b7D | RE | ||
| 3G | 4A | 5B | ||
| 4D | RE | b3G | ||
| 5A | 5B | b7D | ||
| 6E | b3G | 4A | ||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
String 1: G4 at fret 3 (b3), A4 at fret 5 (4).
String 2: D4 at fret 3 (b7), E4 at fret 5 (root).
String 3: A3 at fret 2 (4), B3 at fret 4 (5).
String 4: E3 at fret 2 (root), G3 at fret 5 (b3).
String 5: B2 at fret 2 (5), D3 at fret 5 (b7).
String 6: G2 at fret 3 (b3), A2 at fret 5 (4).
Minor Pentatonic scale essentials
- Interval formula
- 1 · b3 · 4 · 5 · b7
- Characteristic tones
- b3 · b7
Practice the E Minor Pentatonic sound
- Say and play the scale: Play E → G → A → B → D → E up and back down, naming the degrees 1 → b3 → 4 → 5 → b7 → 1 as you go.
- Hear its defining tones: pause on G (b3), D (b7) before landing on E. Listen for how those characteristic tones color the phrase.
- Connect the positions: Work through all 5 position charts. Start in Position 1 (frets 12–15), then repeat a short phrase from the root in each shape. Use the full fretboard chart to find the next E as you move between positions.
Continue with this scale
Take Minor Pentatonic into the matching course and practice resources.