E Major Blues Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
E Major Blues Scale — Notes and Intervals
The E Major Blues scale is an extension of the major pentatonic that adds a blue note for extra soul. On Guitar, the notes are E, F#, G, G#, B, C#. It blends the happy character of major keys with the expressive, vocal-like slides of the blues, and is a staple in country, swing, and jazz-blues contexts. Commonly used in Blues, Country, Jazz, Swing, Southern Rock. Notable players include B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King. Use over major and dominant 7th chords in blues, country, and swing contexts. Mix with minor blues for complete blues vocabulary.
Notes: E, F#, G, G#, B, C#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 3M, 5P, 6M
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 6
Formula: W-H-H-WH-W-WH
Number of notes: 6
How to Play E Major Blues on Guitar
Start the E Major Blues 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 Major Blues scale contains 3 sharps (F#, G#, C#). 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 Major Blues 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.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on E to let the characteristic intervals of the Major Blues scale come through clearly.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the E Major Blues 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 Major Blues scale contains 6 notes (E, F#, G, G#, B, C#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Major Blues
The E Major Blues 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 6-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 Major Blues Further
- Harmonize the E Major Blues scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- E Major Blues on Ukulele
- E Major Blues on Bass
- E Major Blues on Piano
Explore E Major Blues in Other Tunings
- E Major Blues in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Major Blues in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- E Major Blues in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- E Major Blues in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- E Major Blues in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- E Major Blues in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- E Major Blues in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- E Major Blues in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- E Major Blues in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- E Major Blues in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- E Major Blues in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- E Major Blues in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- E Major Blues in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Major Blues in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)