On the guitar neck
Every note up to the 15th fret; the root (E) is coloured. It sits on fret 12 of the low E string and fret 7 of the A string, the two usual starting points.
E minor pentatonic contains E, G, A, B and D, the notes of G major pentatonic, and all six open strings belong to it. Box 1 sits in open position, from the nut to the 3rd fret, and repeats an octave higher at the 12th fret. Low E is the lowest open note on both guitar and four-string bass, one reason E is a staple key for rock and blues riffs.
The E minor pentatonic scale has five notes: E – G – A – B – D. They are the notes of E minor without F♯ and C, the two that form semitones, which is why it rarely clashes with the chords of the key.
Tip: Build a riff on the open low E string, hammer on to the G at its 3rd fret and answer with the open A and D strings.
Every note up to the 15th fret; the root (E) is coloured. It sits on fret 12 of the low E string and fret 7 of the A string, the two usual starting points.
| Note | Interval |
|---|---|
| E | Root |
| G | Minor third |
| A | Perfect fourth |
| B | Perfect fifth |
| D | Minor seventh |
It sounds right over Em and the other chords of E minor, and over a blues in E. The same notes make the G major pentatonic.