E major pentatonic scale

3 sharps: F♯ G♯ C♯ · pattern W–W–W+H–W–W+H

E – F♯ – G♯ – B – C♯

EBEF♯G♯C♯
Step patternWWW+HWW+H

About this scale

Five notes, no half steps: the major scale without its 4th and 7th. With nothing to clash, any note sounds good over the I chord — the reason it’s everywhere in folk, country and pop melodies.

Relative key: C♯ minor pentatonic.

Other E scales

Major pentatonic scale in other keys

Questions

What are the notes of the E major pentatonic scale?

E, F♯, G♯, B, C♯.

How many sharps or flats are in E major pentatonic scale?

3: F♯, G♯, C♯.

What is the step pattern of the major pentatonic scale?

W–W–W+H–W–W+H, where W is a whole step (two keys) and H is a half step (the next key). Start that pattern on E to get this scale.

What is the relative minor of E major pentatonic?

C♯ minor pentatonic. Both scales use the same notes but start on a different tonic.