E Flamenco Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
E Flamenco Scale — Notes and Intervals
The E Flamenco scale is the emotional heart of Spanish music. On Guitar, the notes are E, F, G, G#, A#, B, D. Closely related to the Phrygian system, it is designed to convey deep pathos, rhythmic intensity, and the passionate duende characteristic of traditional guitar styles. Commonly used in Flamenco, Latin, Classical Guitar, World. Notable players include Paco de Lucia, Tomatito, Vicente Amigo, Al Di Meola. Use over flamenco chord progressions (Am-G-F-E type). The scale supports both the melancholic phrygian passages and the explosive major-chord rasgueados.
Notes: E, F, G, G#, A#, B, D
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 3M, 4A, 5P, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 b3 4 #5 6 b7
Formula: H-W-H-W-H-WH-W
Number of notes: 7
How to Play E Flamenco on Guitar
Start the E Flamenco scale in open position, taking advantage of the open E string. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is open position.
The E Flamenco scale contains 2 sharps (G#, A#). 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 Flamenco 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.
Exotic scales like the Flamenco often work best as a melodic layer over a single root drone on E. Let the unique intervals speak for themselves without frequent chord changes.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the E Flamenco scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications.
The E Flamenco scale contains 7 notes (E, F, G, G#, A#, B, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Flamenco
The E Flamenco 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 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore E Flamenco Further
- Harmonize the E Flamenco scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- E Flamenco on Ukulele
- E Flamenco on Bass
- E Flamenco on Piano
Explore E Flamenco in Other Tunings
- E Flamenco in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Flamenco in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- E Flamenco in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- E Flamenco in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- E Flamenco in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- E Flamenco in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- E Flamenco in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- E Flamenco in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- E Flamenco in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- E Flamenco in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- E Flamenco in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- E Flamenco in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- E Flamenco in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Flamenco in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)