A blues scale on guitar
The blues scale is a minor pentatonic with an added flat fifth, the “blue note”. This passing note gives blues, rock and jazz their signature sound.
On the whole neck
Position from fret 5
Root notes are filled. The position groups the notes of the scale in one area of the neck, starting from the root on the 6th string.
Notes of the scale
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | root |
| 2 | C | minor third |
| 3 | D | perfect fourth |
| 4 | E♭ (E flat) | diminished fifth |
| 5 | E | perfect fifth |
| 6 | G | minor seventh |
Steps between notes: W+H – W – H – H – W+H – W (W = whole step, H = half step)
The blues scale is the A minor pentatonic scale plus the flat fifth, the “blue note”.
Other A scales
- Major
- Minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian