E Minor Pentatonic Mandolin Scale
Mandolin scale — fretboard diagram
E Minor Pentatonic Scale — Notes and Intervals
The E Minor Pentatonic scale is the most influential scale in the history of rock and guitar music. On Mandolin, its notes are E, G, A, B, D. It offers a gritty, powerful, and bluesy sound that is highly versatile, serving as the primary tool for improvising solos in rock, blues, and metal and providing a safe but expressive framework for beginners and pros alike. Commonly used in Blues, Rock, Metal, R&B, Funk. Notable players include Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, B.B. King, Slash, Angus Young. Use over minor chords, dominant 7th chords (in blues), and power chords. The backbone of rock and blues guitar for 70+ years.
Notes: E, G, A, B, D
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4P, 5P, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 b5
Formula: WH-W-W-WH-W
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: vietnamese 2
How to Play E Minor Pentatonic on Mandolin
Begin by locating E on your instrument and play through the 5 notes of the Minor Pentatonic scale slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly before increasing speed.
The E Minor Pentatonic scale uses no sharps or flats, consisting entirely of natural notes. This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Practice the E Minor Pentatonic scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 80 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 5 notes of the scale.
This scale works well over simple power chord progressions or a 12-bar blues in E. Try a E5 - B5 - D5 progression.
Mandolin Tips
Practice the E Minor Pentatonic scale slowly and evenly on your instrument, focusing on tone quality for each of the 5 notes before building speed.
The E Minor Pentatonic scale contains 5 notes (E, G, A, B, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Mandolin with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for E Minor Pentatonic
The E Minor 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 Minor Pentatonic Further
- Browse chord progressions
- E Minor Pentatonic on Guitar
- E Minor Pentatonic on Ukulele
- E Minor Pentatonic on Bass
- E Minor Pentatonic on Piano