The E major scale — notes, intervals, and pattern

The E major scale has four sharps — F#, C#, G#, and D# — and is the brightest of the standard rock and blues keys. Both the lowest and highest strings of a guitar are tuned to E, so the scale rings through the whole instrument when played in open position.

Interval pattern

The E major scale is built from this fixed pattern of whole steps (W) and half steps (H):

Wwhole
Wwhole
Hhalf
Wwhole
Wwhole
Wwhole
Hhalf

Every major scale uses this same pattern, transposed to start on a different tonic. The half-steps fall between scale degrees 3–4 and 7–8.

Scale degrees and intervals

Each note of the scale, with its scale-degree name and interval from the root:

Degree	Note	Interval from root	Function
1	E	Root	Tonic
2	F#	M2	Supertonic
3	G#	M3	Mediant
4	A	P4	Subdominant
5	B	P5	Dominant
6	C#	M6	Submediant
7	D#	M7	Subtonic / Leading tone

In melody and improvisation

The 12-bar blues in E (E-A-B7) is the most-played progression in rock and blues. Classical guitar uses E major heavily because of the resonant open strings. Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony opens in E major's blazing key, and the scale carries that bright, sun-lit quality.

Relative key

The E major scale shares its notes with C# minor. Same seven pitches, different tonal centre — when a piece moves between them, no accidentals change.

Common mistakes

Four sharps is a lot to track — F#, C#, G#, AND D#. The leading-tone D# is the easiest to miss; without it, cadences sound flat and modal.

Drill it

The Interval Trainer gives you a root note and an interval, and asks you to name the result. Practising the intervals of the E major scale is the fastest way to internalise it as a melodic shape rather than a memorised string of notes.

Open the Interval Trainer →Or drill key signatures

Frequently asked

What are the notes in the E major scale?: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#.
How many sharps does E major have?: Four: F#, C#, G#, and D#.
What is the relative minor of E major?: C# minor.