E Whole Tone Pentatonic Charango Scale
Charango scale — fretboard diagram
E Whole Tone Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The E Whole Tone Pentatonic scale is a weightless and tonally ambiguous five-note scale. On Charango, the notes are E, G#, Bb, C, D. Because it lacks a traditional center, it creates a blurring effect, making it highly effective for dream sequences, transitions, and creating a sense of suspended reality in film scores. Commonly used in Film Scores, Ambient, Impressionist, Experimental. Notable players include Claude Debussy, Bill Frisell. Use over augmented chords, whole tone passages. Effective for creating a sense of suspended reality.
Notes: E, G#, Bb, C, D
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5d, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 3 b4 b5
Formula: 4-W-W-W-W
Number of notes: 5
How to Play E Whole Tone Pentatonic on Charango
Begin by locating E on your instrument and play through the 5 notes of the Whole Tone Pentatonic scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The E Whole Tone Pentatonic scale contains both sharps and flats (1 sharp, 1 flat), which is common in altered and exotic scales. This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the E Whole Tone Pentatonic scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in E. Try a E5 - C5 - D5 progression.
Charango Tips
Practice the E Whole Tone Pentatonic scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 5 notes before building speed.
The E Whole Tone Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (E, G#, Bb, C, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Charango with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Whole Tone Pentatonic
The E Whole Tone Pentatonic scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 5-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore E Whole Tone Pentatonic Further
- Browse chord progressions
- E Whole Tone Pentatonic on Guitar
- E Whole Tone Pentatonic on Ukulele
- E Whole Tone Pentatonic on Bass
- E Whole Tone Pentatonic on Piano