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Guitar scales · Minor pentatonic

E♭ minor pentatonic scale on guitar (Eb minor pentatonic)

The E♭ minor has five notes: E♭, G♭, A♭, B♭ and D♭. As degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, 5 and ♭7.

Notes and pattern

The E♭ minor pentatonic scale

The first scale most guitarists learn: the backbone of blues and rock soloing. Play it to hear it up and down.

From note to note it climbs 3, 2, 2, 3 and 2 : there are no , which is why it is so hard to hit a wrong note.

E♭ minor has the same notes as G♭ major pentatonic, starting from E♭. See that scale.

  1. E♭1
  2. G♭♭3
  3. A♭4
  4. B♭5
  5. D♭♭7
EADGBE0135791215E♭E♭E♭E♭E♭E♭E♭G♭A♭B♭D♭G♭B♭D♭G♭A♭B♭G♭A♭B♭D♭A♭B♭D♭G♭A♭B♭D♭G♭A♭B♭D♭G♭A♭B♭D♭G♭
  • E♭, the root
  • Other scale notes

Positions

E♭ minor pentatonic in five positions

The splits the neck into five overlapping positions, one per shape. Learn one, then join it to the next.

Box 1 starts at 11, with the , E♭, under your first finger on the low E string.

E♭ minor · G-shape position · box 1

Frets 11–14. The E♭m chord (Em form) is in ink.

EADGBE0135791215E♭E♭E♭B♭G♭B♭G♭A♭D♭A♭D♭G♭
  • Root (E♭)
  • Chord shape
  • Pentatonic tone

Chords

What to play E♭ minor pentatonic over

Play it over songs in E♭ minor or G♭ major, and over a 12-bar blues in E♭ (E♭7, A♭7 and B♭7).

Same root

Change a note or two and the same takes on a new mood.

Questions

E♭ minor pentatonic, in short

What notes are in the E♭ minor pentatonic scale?
The E♭ minor has five notes: E♭, G♭, A♭, B♭ and D♭. As degrees: 1, ♭3, 4, 5 and ♭7.
What chords go with the E♭ minor pentatonic scale?
Play it over songs in E♭ minor or G♭ major, and over a 12-bar blues in E♭ (E♭7, A♭7 and B♭7).
What is the relative major of E♭ minor pentatonic?
E♭ minor pentatonic has the same notes as G♭ major pentatonic, starting from E♭.
All guitar scales