E minor Guitar Scales (Natural)

These E minor guitar scales all begin on the open high e string. All three examples are identical tones, just different ways to the bottom.

The tones in this scale are is E F# G A B C D E - E Natural minor, also known as the Aeolian Mode. It's formula is R 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7. Play the following in triplets or any rhythm you hear.

Check this out.

Stated Rule (for these scales, & guitar in general):

Let everything ring as long as possible, including fretted tones (hold on to every fretted tone as long as possible).

This is a very important 'rule' in guitar. It creates layers of sustain, plus rhythmic effects that help you create style. When and how you let go of a tone is as important as pressing it.

Another Example

Final Example from our E minor Guitar Scales

Remember, let everything ring as long as possible. Try not to disturb a vibrating string. Also, the slurs are optional, plus you can add them to other sets of tones.

There are other ways to 'get down' the scale. You could mix areas of the neck (tones from the above examples) to get other possibilities for these E minor guitar scales.

Final word on the term cross stringing. Cross stringing typically refers to these types of scales in this lesson, where we have groups of tones which could be played on a single string (in a row of steps), yet we use multiple strings that they can ring against one another. In the Baroque era (1600-1750 CE), this would sometimes be called campanellas (bells).

In this way (using cross stringing), we are creating chordal sounds using scales. Thus, blurring the line between harmony and melody.

E minor Guitar Scales - Pentatonics