E Minor in Open E tuning uses E, F#, G, A, B, C, D. The highlighted notes show E, the tonic. Start with the displayed fret range and practise a short phrase that returns to E.
Explore the scale
Choose a fret range to see its notes and matching TAB. These are fret windows, not conventional numbered scale boxes.
Formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7.
Frets 0–4
The TAB lists the shown note positions from low to high. Repeated pitches are different string positions. The highest-pitched string stays on the top line.
E |---------------------------------------------0--2--3--| B |---------------------------------0-----1--3-----------| G#|---------------------------1--3-----4-----------------| E |------------------0--2--3-----------------------------| B |---------0--1--3--------------------------------------| E |0--2--3-----------------------------------------------|
Frets 5–9
The TAB lists the shown note positions from low to high. Repeated pitches are different string positions. The highest-pitched string stays on the top line.
E |------------------------------------------5--7--8--| B |---------------------------------5--7--8-----------| G#|---------------------------6--8--------------------| E |------------------5--7--8--------------------------| B |---------5--7--8-----------------------------------| E |5--7--8--------------------------------------------|
Frets 10–14
The TAB lists the shown note positions from low to high. Repeated pitches are different string positions. The highest-pitched string stays on the top line.
E |---------------------------------------------10-12-14-| B |------------------------------------10-12-13----------| G#|---------------------------10-11-13-------------------| E |------------------10-12-14----------------------------| B |---------10-12-13-------------------------------------| E |10-12-14----------------------------------------------|
Frets 15–19
The TAB lists the shown note positions from low to high. Repeated pitches are different string positions. The highest-pitched string stays on the top line.
E |---------------------------------------------15-17-19-| B |------------------------------------15-17-19----------| G#|---------------------------15-16-18-------------------| E |------------------15-17-19----------------------------| B |---------15-17-19-------------------------------------| E |15-17-19----------------------------------------------|
Frets 18–22
The TAB lists the shown note positions from low to high. Repeated pitches are different string positions. The highest-pitched string stays on the top line.
E |---------------------------------------------19-20-22-| B |------------------------------------19-20-22----------| G#|---------------------------18-20-22-------------------| E |------------------19-20-22----------------------------| B |---------19-20-22-------------------------------------| E |19-20-22----------------------------------------------|
Full neck · frets 0–22
This is a reference map of the whole neck. Choose a smaller fret range for its matching practice TAB.
On a small screen, swipe within the chart or TAB to see the whole range. Start at the string labels on the right of the chart.
What you are playing
Scale notes: E, F#, G, A, B, C, D. Standard tablature stays unchanged, so you can use the same note order as any mainstream lesson or transcription.
The diagram labels use sharp note names. Equivalent names such as D# and Eb identify the same fret; a theory book may use the flat spelling for the same pitch.
Practise it for ten minutes
Play Frets 0-4 slowly up and down. Say the root note E each time it appears, then repeat the pattern with a steady pulse.
- Start Here: Start with the frets 0-4 view. That window gives you a manageable note map without implying that it is a conventional numbered scale box.
- Hear The Color: Make G and C audible so the page keeps its natural minor colour instead of drifting back into generic minor pentatonic.
- Chart Check: Read the string labels before playing. High strings run across the top of these horizontal scale charts, low strings across the bottom, and the nut is on the right.
- Open E Watchpoint: Because the guitar already spells a major chord, use the left-handed chord chart to avoid over-reading every voicing as a standard-tuning shape. It makes bright rhythm guitar and open slide vocabulary feel immediate.
Matching chords
These chords use notes from this scale in the same tuning. Try one chord, then a short scale phrase.
Explore this scale on the fretboard · How to read the scale charts · Check your tuning · All scale charts by tuning