Blues scale on guitar
Minor pentatonic + the b5 “blue note.” Formula 1 b3 4 b5 5 b7. In A, the blues scale is A, C, D, Eb, E, G.
Formula and step pattern
Steps between neighbouring notes, closing on the octave: W+H W H H W+H W (W = whole step, H = half step, W+H = three semitones).
| Degree | Semitones from root | In A |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | A |
| b3 | 3 | C |
| 4 | 5 | D |
| b5 | 6 | Eb |
| 5 | 7 | E |
| b7 | 10 | G |
Blues scale notes in all 12 keys
The root fret columns show where each key starts on the 6th (low E) and 5th (A) strings in standard tuning.
| Key | Notes | Root on 6th string | Root on 5th string |
|---|---|---|---|
| C blues | C Eb F Gb G Bb | 8 | 3 |
| C# blues | C# E F# G G# B | 9 | 4 |
| D blues | D F G Ab A C | 10 | 5 |
| D# blues | D# F# G# A A# C# | 11 | 6 |
| E blues | E G A Bb B D | Open (and 12) | 7 |
| F blues | F Ab Bb Cb C Eb | 1 | 8 |
| F# blues | F# A B C C# E | 2 | 9 |
| G blues | G Bb C Db D F | 3 | 10 |
| G# blues | G# B C# D D# F# | 4 | 11 |
| A blues | A C D Eb E G | 5 | Open (and 12) |
| A# blues | A# C# D# E E# G# | 6 | 1 |
| B blues | B D E F F# A | 7 | 2 |
Fretboard positions: A blues
Root in solid cyan, scale tones outlined, from the open strings to fret 15. Slide the pattern along the neck to change key, using the root frets in the table above.
Pick another root in the scale trainer to light up the blues scale in any key.
Chords that fit A blues
Chords from the chord library built only from notes of A blues (A C D Eb E G).
Related scales
- Minor pentatonic scale: Minor pentatonic sits inside blues, which adds b5.