E Minor Scale on Guitar
E F♯ G A B C D — one sharp, and the key of a vast amount of guitar music.
E natural minor
Tap any fret to hear it. Gold dots are the root. Positions start at each scale note on the low string, so position 1 is the lowest box.
Notes and Intervals
| Note | Interval | From the root |
|---|---|---|
| E | R | Root · 0 semitones |
| F♯ | 2 | Major 2nd · 2 semitones |
| G | ♭3 | Minor 3rd · 3 semitones |
| A | 4 | Perfect 4th · 5 semitones |
| B | 5 | Perfect 5th · 7 semitones |
| C | ♭6 | Minor 6th · 8 semitones |
| D | ♭7 | Minor 7th · 10 semitones |
Positions in Standard Tuning
| Position | Frets | Low E string starts on |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0–4 | E · root |
| 2 | 1–5 | F♯ |
| 3 | 2–6 | G |
| 4 | 4–8 | A |
| 5 | 6–10 | B |
| 6 | 7–11 | C |
| 7 | 9–13 | D |
Positions are numbered from the lowest box on the neck, as in the explorer above. Add 12 to any of them for the same shape an octave higher.
About the E Minor Scale
The E minor scale is E, F♯, G, A, B, C and D, with one sharp, F♯. It is the relative minor of G major and shares all its notes. Every open string on the guitar is in it, so it is the most natural minor key on the instrument.
In open position you can play two full octaves using only frets 0 to 3, and the open low E is available as a bass note and drone throughout.
Finding It on the Fretboard
The scale has 7 notes, so it has 7 positions: five-fret windows that each start on a different scale note on the low E string. The one that starts on the root, E, covers frets 0 to 4 and uses open strings. It is the shape most lessons teach first, and the easiest to keep your bearings in, because the root is under your hand on both E strings. Use the position buttons in the explorer to isolate each one, and switch the labels to intervals to see what every fret does in the scale.
Chords in the Scale
Stacking every other note of the scale gives these seven chords. Any of them, and progressions made from them, can be played under the scale:
How to Practise It
- Play the open-position E minor scale with all the open strings ringing.
- Use the open low E as a pedal: alternate it with each scale note on the 5th and 4th strings to build riffs.
- Practise the progression Em–C–G–D, then improvise over it.
- Learn the same scale at the 12th fret and connect it to the open position through the 7th-fret shape.
A steady reference makes every one of these more useful: open the drone generator on E in another tab and play against it.
Where You Hear It
Rock and metal riffs, acoustic ballads and folk songs in minor all gravitate to E minor because of the open low E. The chords of the key — Em, F♯°, G, Am, Bm, C and D — include five easy open shapes.
For lead playing, start with the E minor pentatonic and add F♯ and C to get the full scale.
Explore every scale in every key in the scale explorer, or print the free guitar charts to practise away from a screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the notes of the E minor scale?
E, F♯, G, A, B, C and D. It has one sharp, F♯.
What is the relative major of E minor?
G major. The two keys share the same seven notes.
What chords are in the key of E minor?
Em, F♯°, G, Am, Bm, C and D. B or B7 often replaces Bm, borrowed from E harmonic minor.