Guitar Scale Chart
Interactive fretboard diagrams for all 12 keys. Pick a root note and scale type to see the positions on the guitar neck.
5-note scale. The most played scale in rock guitar solos. Rock, blues, metal, pop (most guitar solos)
E Pentatonic Min - Fretboard Positions
Standard tuning: EADGBE. Strings from top (high e) to bottom (low E). Fret markers at 3, 5, 7, 9, 12.
E Pentatonic Min - All Notes (Frets 0-12)
Popular Guitar Scale Shapes
Guitar Scales by Genre
| Genre | Go-To Scales | Why It Works | Common Keys |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock / Metal | Pentatonic Minor / Blues | The standard for electric guitar solos. Works over major and minor chord progressions. Pentatonic minor is the first scale every rock guitarist learns. | E, A, D, G |
| Blues | Blues Scale | The blues scale adds the flat 5 (blue note) to pentatonic minor. Bends and vibrato on the b5 and b7 are the core of blues expression. | E, A, B, G |
| Country / Folk | Major / Pentatonic Major | Country guitar solos favor major and major pentatonic. The open and bright sound of C, G, D major pentatonic shapes suit country strumming and chicken-picking. | G, D, C, A |
| Jazz / Fusion | Dorian / Mixolydian / Harmonic Minor | Jazz guitar uses modal scales and harmonic minor for ii-V-I lines. Dorian over minor chords, Mixolydian over dominant 7ths. | Varies by chord changes |
| Funk / R&B | Pentatonic Minor / Dorian | Funky rhythm guitar uses pentatonic minor chops and Dorian for fills. The raised 6th in Dorian adds brightness to minor-key grooves. | D, G, A, E |
| Flamenco / Spanish | Phrygian / Harmonic Minor | Phrygian mode and harmonic minor are the backbone of flamenco. The flat 2nd in Phrygian and the augmented 2nd in harmonic minor create the distinctive Spanish sound. | E, A, D |
| Metal / Shred | Natural Minor / Phrygian / Harmonic Minor | Metal guitar uses natural minor for power chord riffs, Phrygian for palm-muted heavy riffs, and harmonic minor for neo-classical shred solos (Malmsteen style). | E, B, D, A |
| Pop / Singer-Songwriter | Major / Minor Pentatonic | Pop guitar keeps it simple with major and minor pentatonic. The 5 notes leave no room for "wrong" notes over standard pop chord progressions. | G, C, D, A, E |
The CAGED System - Connecting Positions
The CAGED system uses 5 open chord shapes (C, A, G, E, D) as anchor points to map scales across the entire fretboard. Every major scale position is associated with one of these 5 shapes, letting you connect positions smoothly for full-neck soloing.
How to Read a Guitar Scale Diagram
Strings and Frets
Horizontal lines = strings. The top line is the high e string (thinnest). The bottom line is the low E string (thickest). Vertical columns = fret positions. Fret 0 = open string.
Dot Colors
Filled violet dots = root notes (play these first to establish the key center). Light violet dots = other notes in the scale. Empty circles = notes NOT in the scale (avoid these in solos).
Positions and Patterns
A "position" is a 4-5 fret window where the scale fits under your hand. Learn each position as a pattern, then connect them for full-neck coverage. Start with Position 1 (open position).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best scale to learn first on guitar? v
The pentatonic minor scale is the best first scale for most guitarists. It has only 5 notes, works over both major and minor chord progressions, and is used in virtually every rock, blues, and pop guitar solo. Start with E minor pentatonic in the open position (frets 0-3) and learn Position 1 before moving to other positions.
What is the difference between pentatonic minor and the blues scale? v
The blues scale adds one note to the minor pentatonic: the flat 5 (the "blue note"). In E minor pentatonic the notes are E, G, A, B, D. The E blues scale adds Bb to get E, G, A, Bb, B, D. Bend the Bb up toward B for the classic blues sound. Use the blue note as a passing tone rather than landing on it.
How many scale positions are there on guitar? v
For 7-note scales there are 7 positions (one for each scale degree). For pentatonic (5-note) scales there are 5 positions. The CAGED system organizes these positions around 5 open chord shapes (C, A, G, E, D). Once you know all 5 pentatonic positions you can solo all over the neck in any key.
What scales do guitarists use most? v
The most used scales on guitar are: (1) Minor pentatonic - rock and blues solos, (2) Blues scale - pentatonic minor with blue note, (3) Natural minor - heavier than pentatonic, (4) Major pentatonic - country, pop, happy rock, (5) Dorian - jazz, funk, R&B, (6) Mixolydian - rock, blues-rock. Start with pentatonic minor, then add the blue note to get the blues scale, then expand to the full 7-note natural minor.