C sharp 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

EADGBEEF♯GG♯BC♯EBC♯EF♯GG♯EF♯GG♯BC♯GG♯BC♯EF♯GBC♯EF♯GG♯BEF♯GG♯BC♯E0123456789101112

Position from fret 9

EADGBEC♯EF♯GG♯BC♯EF♯GG♯BC♯E9101112

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

DegreeNoteInterval
1C♯ (C sharp)root
2Eminor third
3F♯ (F sharp)perfect fourth
4Gdiminished fifth
5G♯ (G sharp)perfect fifth
6Bminor seventh

Steps between notes: W+H – W – H – H – W+H – W (W = whole step, H = half step)

The blues scale is the C sharp minor pentatonic scale plus the flat fifth, the “blue note”.

Other C♯ scales

The same scale in other keys