E major scale on mandolin
The E major scale has seven notes: E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯ and D♯ (1 2 3 4 5 6 7). The do-re-mi scale that every other scale is measured against. Bright and settled; it fits major and maj7 chords, and the other six modes are this scale started from a different note.
| Note | E | F♯ | G♯ | A | B | C♯ | D♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Step to the next | whole | whole | half | whole | whole | whole | half |
2 positions to learn it in
Each stretch here is a few frets you can play without moving the hand: the open position, then from the root on the lowest string. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the E major scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; E (E) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (E) | Ehome | Emaj7home |
| 2 (F♯) | F♯mrestless | F♯m7restless |
| 3 (G♯) | G♯mhalf-light | G♯m7half-light |
| 4 (A) | Athe door | Amaj7the door |
| 5 (B) | Bthe pull | B7the pull |
| 6 (C♯) | C♯mthe shadow | C♯m7the shadow |
| 7 (D♯) | D♯dimthe edge | D♯m7♭5the edge |
Scales with the same notes
Its relative minor is the C♯ minor scale: the same notes, started from C♯.
The chords of this key, to hear and play: chords in the key of E major.
Questions
What notes are in the E major scale?
E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯ and D♯. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, and the steps between its notes are W W H W W W H (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the E major scale?
The chords made only of its notes: E, F♯m, G♯m, A, B, C♯m and D♯dim, and as seventh chords Emaj7, F♯m7, G♯m7, Amaj7, B7, C♯m7 and D♯m7♭5. E is home: E is the chord it sounds most settled over.
What is the relative minor of the E major scale?
The C♯ minor scale, which has the same notes started from C♯.
The major scale in every key
Other scales in E
E minorE minor pentatonicE major pentatonicE bluesE DorianE MixolydianE LydianE PhrygianE harmonic minorE melodic minorE Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: mandolin scales. This scale on guitar, bass, ukulele and banjo.