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Scale · Reference entry

E Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale

Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale · E – G – A – B – C♯ – E · intervals P1-m3-P4-P5-M6

The E Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale contains the notes E, G, A, B, and C♯. Its step pattern is m3-W-W-W-m3. The minor pentatonic with the natural 6th — a brighter, jazzier pentatonic for modal contexts.

At the keyboard

E · G · A · B · C#
Flashcards · Scale
Three questions on E Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale
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The E Minor 6 Pentatonic scale contains five notes: E, G, A, B, and C♯. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern m3-W-W-W-m3.

E Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale Notes

DegreeNameNoteInterval
1RootEP1
♭3Minor 3rdGm3
4Perfect 4thAP4
5Perfect 5thBP5
6Major 6thC♯M6
8OctaveEP8

Key Signature

The E Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale shares the key signature of its relative major, G Major1 sharp (F♯).

F♯

Written as accidentals

C♯

Order of sharps

Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.

FCGDAEB

Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

E Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale — Frequently Asked Questions

What are the notes of the E Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale on piano?
The E Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale uses the notes E – G – A – B – C♯ – E. Play them in order from the root up to the octave, hands separately first, then together.
What notes are in the E Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale?
The E Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale contains five notes: E – G – A – B – C#. The notes table above shows each note with its scale degree and interval from the root.
How many sharps or flats does E Minor 6 Pentatonic have?
The E Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale shares the key signature of its relative major, G Major1 sharp: F♯. The remaining alterations are written as accidentals: C♯.
What is the relative major of E Minor 6 Pentatonic?
The relative major of E Minor 6 Pentatonic is G Major. The five notes of E Minor 6 Pentatonic are all drawn from G Major, and both share the same key signature — the difference is which note feels like "home."
What chords are in the key of E Minor 6 Pentatonic?
The seven diatonic chords in the key of E Minor 6 Pentatonic are: i – E Minor, ii° – F# Diminished, III – G Major, iv – A Minor, v – B Minor, VI – C Major, VII – D Major. A classic progression in E Minor 6 Pentatonic is i – VI – iv – v (E Minor → C Major → A Minor → B Minor).
What is the parallel major of E Minor 6 Pentatonic?
The parallel major of E Minor 6 Pentatonic is E Major. "Parallel" means same root note, opposite mode — the two scales differ by three notes (the third, sixth, and seventh are lowered in minor). Borrowing chords from the parallel key is a popular way to add color to a progression.
What does the E Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale sound like?
The E Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale has the foundation of rock, blues, and pop guitar solos — minor without the unstable second and sixth. With only five notes, the pentatonic scale avoids the most dissonant intervals — every note in the scale sounds good against every other, which makes it ideal for soloing.

Related Tools

Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.

References & Further Reading

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this scale page are grounded in the following sources. Public domain treatises and scores are linked to their full text; primary data is piano.org's own interval-derived reference dataset — continuously maintained and human-verified, with no fixed publication date.

  1. 1

    Jadassohn, Salomon(1883)

    A Manual of Harmony

    Public domain treatise
  2. 2

    Prout, Ebenezer(1889)

    Harmony: Its Theory and Practice

    Public domain treatise
  3. 3

    Goetschius, Percy(1889)

    The Material Used in Musical Composition

    Public domain treatise
  4. 4

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