Scales in the Key of E

Click on the scale name for a diagram and explanation of each scale type:

E Major Scale | E Natural Minor Scale | E Harmonic Minor Scale | E Melodic Minor Scale | E Major Pentatonic Scale | E Minor Pentatonic Scale | E Major Blues Scale | E Minor Blues Scale

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E MAJOR SCALE

The E major scale contains seven notes starting and ending on E. Major scales are arranged in a consistent pattern of whole and half steps: W-W-H-W-W-W-H.

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E NATURAL MINOR SCALE

The E natural minor scale follows the key signature of its relative major: G major. In natural minor scales, there are no additional accidentals.

The relative major key of E minor is G major. Therefore, E minor has one sharp (F♯).

TIP: To find the relative major key, count up three half-steps from the minor key’s root note.

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E HARMONIC MINOR SCALE

The E harmonic minor scale follows the key signature of G major and raises the seventh note by one half-step. This means we raise D to D♯.

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E MELODIC MINOR SCALE

The E melodic minor scale follows the key signature of G major. We raise the sixth and seventh notes up a half-step when we ascend the scale, then lower them back by a half-step when we descend the scale.

In E melodic minor, we raise C and D to C♯ and D♯ when ascending. We then lower them to C and D descending.

Ascending

Descending

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E MAJOR PENTATONIC SCALE

The E major pentatonic is a five-note scale built on the following major scale degrees: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.

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E MINOR PENTATONIC SCALE

The E minor pentatonic is a five-note scale built on the following minor scale degrees: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7.

You can also think of the E minor pentatonic as being built on the following major scale degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭7.

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E MAJOR BLUES SCALE

The E major blues scale is built on the following degrees of the major scale: 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 5, 6.

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E MINOR BLUES SCALE

The E minor blues scale is built on the following degrees of the natural minor scale: 1, 3, 4, ♭5, 5, 7.

You can also think of it as being built on the following major scale degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 5, ♭7.

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