E minor pentatonic scale on bass
The E minor pentatonic scale has 5 notes: E G A B D (E, G, A, B, and D).
- E 1
- G ♭3
- A 4
- B 5
- D ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 15. The root (E) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Box 1 (frets 0 to 3), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: open (E), 3 (G)
- string 3: open (A), 2 (B)
- string 2: open (D), 2 (E)
- string 1: open (G), 2 (A)
Box 2 (frets 2 to 5), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 3 (G), 5 (A)
- string 3: 2 (B), 5 (D)
- string 2: 2 (E), 5 (G)
- string 1: 2 (A), 4 (B)
Box 3 (frets 4 to 7), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 5 (A), 7 (B)
- string 3: 5 (D), 7 (E)
- string 2: 5 (G), 7 (A)
- string 1: 4 (B), 7 (D)
Box 4 (frets 7 to 10), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 7 (B), 10 (D)
- string 3: 7 (E), 10 (G)
- string 2: 7 (A), 9 (B)
- string 1: 7 (D), 9 (E)
Box 5 (frets 9 to 12), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 10 (D), 12 (E)
- string 3: 10 (G), 12 (A)
- string 2: 9 (B), 12 (D)
- string 1: 9 (E), 12 (G)
Fretboard positions
On the neck, the scale splits into boxes of 2 notes per string. Box 1 starts on the root (E) on the lowest string; the others start on the next notes and chain together up the neck.
Use Degrees to see the role of each note (1 is the root) and Listen to hear the selected position going up and down.
Formula
- E
- 1½W
- G
- W
- A
- W
- B
- 1½W
- D
- W
- E
Degrees: 1 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭7. Steps: 1½W – W – W – 1½W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the minor pentatonic scale
The most used scale in rock and blues solos. Five notes, easy to memorise on the neck.
Scales with the same notes
Relative major: G major pentatonic scale . Same notes, different center.
More E scales
- Major
- Natural minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Blues
- Major blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole)
Minor pentatonic in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the E minor pentatonic scale?
The notes of the E minor pentatonic scale are E, G, A, B, and D. The root, degree 1, is E.
What is the formula of the E minor pentatonic scale?
In degrees: 1 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭7. In steps between the notes: 1½W – W – W – 1½W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do you play the E minor pentatonic scale on bass?
On the neck, the scale splits into boxes of 2 notes per string. Box 1 starts on the root (E) on the lowest string; the others start on the next notes and chain together up the neck. There are 5 boxes on bass, each with the full fingering.