Low E string: F, G, Bb, C, Eb at frets 1, 3, 6, 8, 11
A string: Bb, C, Eb, F, G at frets 1, 3, 6, 8, 10
D string: Eb, F, G, Bb, C at frets 1, 3, 5, 8, 10
G string: G, Bb, C, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12
B string: C, Eb, F, G, Bb at frets 1, 4, 6, 8, 11
High E string: F, G, Bb, C, Eb at frets 1, 3, 6, 8, 11
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:
I
II
IV
V
bVII
Same notes, different mode
F 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.
How to play F egyptian on guitar
Open G is the only string in key and it is a whole step over the tonic, so it works as a colour tone rather than an anchor. Lowest root sits at fret 1, letting the E-shape barre live right at the nut. Two flats, no sharps. Box one closes at fret 5, and the same grips read from C give C minor pentatonic.
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