The notes of the E Major Scale are E, F#, G#, A, B, C# D#.

The chords of the E Major scale are:

MajorMinorMinorMajorMajorMinorDim
IiiiiiIVViiVII*
EF#mG#mABC#mD#*

E Major Scale – All Across the Neck

E Major Scale

You should know where you can play the E Major scale on your guitar. I have highlighted the 5 positions below where you could play it. Please note that some of these patterns will repeat beyond the 12th fret. Start each scale on the root note.

E Major Scale – Position 1
This pattern covers two octaves.

E Major Scale Position 1

E Major Scale – Position 2

E Major Scale Position 2

E Major Scale – Position 3

E Major Scale Position 3

E Major Scale – Position 4

E Major Scale Position 4

E Major Scale – Position 5
This pattern covers two octaves.

E Major Scale Position 5

Try the following when playing this scale:

Use a metronome – start very slowly.
Play cleanly – Focus on fingering every note cleanly.
Alternate pick – Alternate between up and down. Play quarter notes and then eighth notes.
Down pick all notes – Play quarter notes and then eighth notes.
Triplets – Alternate pick 3 notes for each beat.
16th notes – Alternate pick 4 notes for each beat.
Fingerpick – Use just your fingers to pick. Thumb plays the top 3 strings, Index, Middle and Ring fingers play the bottom strings respectively. Thumb, index, middle and ring are usually indicated by the initials P, I, M, A.
Alternate Fingerpick – Alternate Index & Middle fingers to play each note of the scale.
Use hammer on’s and pull off’s – Can you play each one without picking?
Speed up – As you feel more comfortable, try to increase the metronome speed.
Turn off metronome – Play the exercises but name each note that you play (without looking at the diagrams). Go as slow as you like.
Name the notes – Play exercises and name only the root notes (without looking at the diagrams).
Different positions – Do all the exercises and picking variations for each position.

Explore More

G Minor Scale

The notes of the G Minor Scale are G, A, A#, C, D, D#, F. The Chords in the G Minor scale are: Minor Dim Major Minor Minor Major Major

Other Scales

I’ve included some other scales for reference. The following diagrams are all in the key of A (unless otherwise noted). Acoustic Scale Altered Dominant Scale Asavari Scale – G Blues

All Major Triads – 4th String Set

All Major Triads 4th String SetA MajorE--0--5--9---12--B--2--5--10--14--G--2--6--9---14--D----------------A----------------E----------------B MajorE--2--7--11--14--B--4--7--12--12--G--4--8--11--12--D----------------A----------------E----------------C MajorE--0--3--8--12--B--1--5--8--13--G--0--5--9--12--D---------------A---------------E---------------D MajorE--2--5--10--14--B--2--7--10--15--G--2--7--11--14--D----------------A----------------E----------------E MajorE--0--4--7--12--B--0--5--9--12--G--1--4--9--13--D---------------A---------------E---------------F MajorE--1--5--8---13--B--1--6--10--13--G--2--5--10--14--D----------------A----------------E----------------G MajorE--3--7--10--15--B--3--8--12--15--G--4--7--12--16--D----------------A----------------E----------------