E Minor Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
E Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The E Minor scale, also known as the Aeolian mode or natural minor, is the standard for expressing melancholy, introspection, and drama. On Guitar, its notes are E, F#, G, A, B, C, D. Its sound is darker and more somber than the major scale, widely used in songwriting to evoke deep emotional narratives and serving as the foundation of traditional minor-key compositions. The diatonic chords of E Minor are Em7, F#m7b5, Gmaj7, Am7, Bm7, Cmaj7, D7. Commonly used in Rock, Pop, Metal, Classical, R&B. Notable players include Metallica, Adele, Beethoven. Use over minor triads, m7, m9 chords. Works across the entire minor key. Avoid over dominant chords that want a leading tone.
Notes: E, F#, G, A, B, C, D
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: W-H-W-W-H-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Also known as: aeolian
Diatonic Chords
Em7 — F♯m7♭5 — Gmaj7 — Am7 — Bm7 — Cmaj7 — D7
How to Play E Minor on Guitar
Start the E Minor 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 Minor scale contains 1 sharp (F#). Its relative major is G major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the E Minor scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (E-G, F#-A) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Try these progressions with the E Minor scale: Em7 - Am7 - Bm7 - Em7 (I-IV-V-I) or Em7 - F#m7b5 - Am7 - Bm7 for a more stepwise movement.
Guitar Tips
Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the E Minor scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently.
The E Minor scale contains 7 notes (E, F#, G, A, B, C, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Minor
The E Minor 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 Minor Further
- Harmonize the E Minor scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- E Minor on Ukulele
- E Minor on Bass
- E Minor on Piano
Explore E Minor in Other Tunings
- E Minor in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Minor in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- E Minor in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- E Minor in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- E Minor in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- E Minor in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- E Minor in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- E Minor in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- E Minor in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- E Minor in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- E Minor in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- E Minor in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- E Minor in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Minor in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)