E Minor Scale on Guitar
The E Minor scale contains E, F#, G, A, B, C and D — 7 notes. Every position is marked across the whole fretboard below, labelled with note names and with interval numbers, and the tuning of each string can be changed.
| Degree | 1 | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | E | F# | G | A | B | C | D |
| Interval | Root | Major 2nd | Minor 3rd | Perfect 4th | Perfect 5th | Minor 6th | Minor 7th |
Note names
Interval numbers
Circle of fifths
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the E Minor scale?
E, F#, G, A, B, C and D. That is 7 notes.
What is the interval pattern of the E Minor scale?
2-1-2-2-1-2-2, counting in semitones from the root: E to F# is 2 semitones, F# to G is 1, G to A is 2, A to B is 2, B to C is 1, C to D is 2 and D back up to E is 2.
Which chords go with the E Minor scale?
The triads built from its own notes: Em, F#°, G, Am, Bm, C and D. Those are the chords that will sound consonant over it.
What is the relative major of E Minor?
G major. The two share all 7 notes — E Minor starts from the sixth degree of G major, which is why they have the same key signature.
Which smaller scales fit inside the E Minor scale?
C Major Pentatonic, E Minor Pentatonic, D Dominant Pentatonic (Mixolydian Pentatonic) and A Minor Sixth Pentatonic. Every note of those is also in the E Minor scale, so they can be played over it.
Practice this on your own guitar
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