E minor pentatonic
5-note minor pentatonic scale on E — E, G, A, B, D.
Press to hear the scale played ascending.
The five-note minor scale — the backbone of blues and rock solos, and usually the first scale a guitarist learns.
The notes
Each degree links to its pitch page. Note names use sharp spelling throughout — every accidental is written as a sharp (C♯, not D♭), the same convention as the note pages.
Degrees & steps
| Degree | Note | Semitones from root | Step to next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | 0 | 3 semitones |
| ♭3 | G | 3 | whole |
| 4 | A | 5 | whole |
| 5 | B | 7 | 3 semitones |
| ♭7 | D | 10 | whole |
The step formula is 3–2–2–3–2 semitones — 5 steps that sum to a full octave (12 semitones) and return to E.