E 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
Open position
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 | E | root |
| 2 | G | minor third |
| 3 | A | perfect fourth |
| 4 | B♭ (B flat) | diminished fifth |
| 5 | B | perfect fifth |
| 6 | D | minor seventh |
Steps between notes: W+H – W – H – H – W+H – W (W = whole step, H = half step)
The blues scale is the E minor pentatonic scale plus the flat fifth, the “blue note”.
Other E scales
- Major
- Minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian