STRINGSCALES

A egyptian Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, G, A, B, D, E at frets 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12

A string: A, B, D, E, G, A at frets 0, 2, 5, 7, 10, 12

D string: D, E, G, A, B, D at frets 0, 2, 5, 7, 9, 12

G string: G, A, B, D, E, G at frets 0, 2, 4, 7, 9, 12

B string: B, D, E, G, A, B at frets 0, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12

High E string: E, G, A, B, D, E at frets 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12

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A egyptian

The egyptian scale is the suspended pentatonic: root, 2nd, 4th, 5th, flat 7th. It is the minor pentatonic rotated to start on its 4th... with no 3rd anywhere, it commits to neither major nor minor, evoking the open, ancient sound film composers reach for. Over a sus7 chord or a bare fifth drone it sits perfectly.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

B

II

D

IV

E

V

G

bVII

Same notes, different mode

A egyptian uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

B malkos ragaD ritusenE minor pentatonicG major pentatonic

egyptian in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • A rotation of the minor pentatonic with no 3rd at all: suspended, ancient-sounding, and safe over both major and minor chords on A.
  • Build riffs on the 2nd (B) and 4th (D) around the root; those two notes are the scale's identity.
  • Over a sus7 vamp, use bVII (G) to II leaps for the wide-open film-score color.
  • Same notes as the minor pentatonic a 5th above A: relearn nothing, just re-center your phrases.

How to play A egyptian on guitar

Open A is the tonic itself, so the fifth string can ring right through a phrase. Every open string is in the scale, which means the whole nut is usable. Lowest root lies at fret 5 down low. Box one closes at fret 9, the A-shape barre sits at fret 12, and further roots fall at fret 7 and fret 2.

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