Playing the E Whole Tone Scale
The E whole tone scale is E, F#, G#, A#, B# and D. B# is a theoretical spelling that you play as C, so on the fretboard the notes are E, F#, G#, A#, C and D.
Both the low and the high open E strings can serve as roots, and the 7th fret of the A string adds another. Since the scale needs only a two-fret step, the pattern is easy to memorise even if the sound takes longer.
Play the E whole-tone scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the E whole-tone scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | 1 | Root | 0 |
| F# | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| G# | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| A# | #4 | Tritone | 6 |
| B# | #5 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| D | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
E whole-tone scale notes:
How the whole-tone scale is built:
The whole-tone scale is built from the degrees 1 2 3 #4 #5 b7, which gives the step pattern W-W-W-W-W-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. That makes it a 6-note scale.
E Whole-Tone Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (low E)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
The whole-tone scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
