E Minor Hexatonic Guitar Scale

E Minor Hexatonic in Double Drop D — Notes and Intervals

The E Minor Hexatonic scale is a six-note scale that bridges the gap between the minor pentatonic and full modal scales. On Guitar, it contains the notes E, F#, G, A, B, D#. It has a soulful, minor character but offers more melodic flexibility, making it a common choice for blues and jazz-rock soloing. Commonly used in Blues, Jazz-Rock, R&B, Soul. Notable players include B.B. King, Albert King, John Mayer. Use over m7 chords and blues changes. More flexible than minor pentatonic but less complex than full Dorian.

Notes: E, F#, G, A, B, D#

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 7M

Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 6

Formula: W-H-W-W-4-H

Number of notes: 6

Tuning: Double Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-D)

About Double Drop D Tuning

Double Drop D tuning (D-A-D-G-B-D) lowers both the 6th and 1st strings from E to D, creating a symmetrical frame of D notes around the standard middle four strings. This gives a distinctly resonant, jangly character that has been beloved in folk-rock and acoustic music since the late 1960s.

Neil Young used Double Drop D extensively — 'Cinnamon Girl' features its distinctive droning riff, and 'The Needle and the Damage Done' showcases its intimate fingerpicking potential. Jimmy Page used it on Led Zeppelin's 'Going to California'. Fleetwood Mac's 'The Chain' also employs this tuning. Because only two strings change (both by just one whole step), Double Drop D is one of the easiest alternate tunings to learn — most standard chord shapes on the inner four strings remain unchanged.

Notable artists: Neil Young, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Fleetwood Mac, Crosby Stills Nash & Young

Best for: Folk-rock songwriting, D-centric acoustic arrangements, droning fingerpicking patterns, and any song that benefits from rich D-string resonance on both outer strings

Musical Character

Bridges the gap between the 5-note minor pentatonic and full 7-note modes — adds one note that provides extra melodic flexibility while maintaining the blues feel.

Explore This Scale in Other Tunings

• E Minor Hexatonic in Standard Tuning
• E Minor Hexatonic in Drop D
• E Minor Hexatonic in DADGAD
• E Minor Hexatonic in Open G
• E Minor Hexatonic in Baritone (B Standard)
• E Minor Hexatonic in 7-string
• E Minor Hexatonic in 8-string
• E Minor Hexatonic in Drop C
• E Minor Hexatonic in Drop B
• E Minor Hexatonic in Open D
• E Minor Hexatonic in Half Step Down
• E Minor Hexatonic in Open E
• E Minor Hexatonic in Open A
• E Minor Hexatonic in Open C

← All Guitar scales in Double Drop D tuning