C blues scale on piano
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 keyboard
Numbers above the keys are the scale degrees; the root is filled.
Notes of the scale
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | root |
| 2 | E♭ (E flat) | minor third |
| 3 | F | perfect fourth |
| 4 | G♭ (G flat) | diminished fifth |
| 5 | G | perfect fifth |
| 6 | B♭ (B flat) | minor seventh |
Steps between notes: W+H – W – H – H – W+H – W (W = whole step, H = half step)
The blues scale is the C minor pentatonic scale plus the flat fifth, the “blue note”.
Other C scales
- Major
- Minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian