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E minor six pentatonic Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, G, A, B, C#, E at frets 0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12

A string: A, B, C#, E, G, A at frets 0, 2, 4, 7, 10, 12

D string: E, G, A, B, C# at frets 2, 5, 7, 9, 11

G string: G, A, B, C#, E, G at frets 0, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12

B string: B, C#, E, G, A, B at frets 0, 2, 5, 8, 10, 12

High E string: E, G, A, B, C#, E at frets 0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12

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E minor six pentatonic

The minor six pentatonic swaps the flat 7th of the minor pentatonic for a natural 6th: root, flat 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th. That one change shifts the color from blues toward dorian, outlining a minor 6th chord, the classic sound over a minor vamp with a sophisticated edge. Grant Green and jazz-blues players lean on it constantly.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

E

I

G

bIII

A

IV

B

V

C♯

VI

minor six pentatonic in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Minor pentatonic with the b7 (D) swapped for the natural 6th (C#): one moved finger, and the box outlines a m6 chord.
  • Over a dorian vamp or m6 chord on E, the VI is the color note: lean on it where you would have leaned on b7 (D).
  • Grant Green's trick: run it over the related dominant a 4th above; the same five notes spell that chord's 9-13 colors.
  • Alternate it with the standard minor pentatonic mid-solo; toggling the 6th and 7th keeps a long minor jam moving.

How to play E minor six pentatonic on guitar

Five open strings sit in this key and the open low E is the lowest root, so the first box needs no fretted bass at all. Box one starts at the nut and the next shape takes over at fret 4, which means the first shift arrives early. Only the D string stays out. Roots continue at fret 7 on the A string and fret 9 on the G, so the neck stays covered after that shift.

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