A major blues scale on cavaquinho
The A major blues scale has 6 notes: A B C C♯ E F♯ (A, B, C, C sharp, E, and F sharp).
- A 1
- B 2
- C ♭3
- C♯ C sharp 3
- E 5
- F♯ F sharp 6
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 17. The root (A) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Box 5 (frets 4 to 7), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 4 (F♯), 7 (A)
- string 3: 4 (B), 5 (C), 6 (C♯)
- string 2: 5 (E), 7 (F♯)
- string 1: 7 (A)
Box 1 (frets 6 to 11), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 7 (A), 9 (B), 10 (C)
- string 3: 6 (C♯), 9 (E)
- string 2: 7 (F♯), 10 (A)
- string 1: 9 (B), 10 (C), 11 (C♯)
Box 2 (frets 9 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 9 (B), 10 (C), 11 (C♯)
- string 3: 9 (E), 11 (F♯)
- string 2: 10 (A), 12 (B), 13 (C)
- string 1: 11 (C♯)
Box 3 (frets 11 to 14), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 11 (C♯), 14 (E)
- string 3: 11 (F♯), 14 (A)
- string 2: 12 (B), 13 (C), 14 (C♯)
- string 1: 14 (E)
Box 4 (frets 14 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 14 (E), 16 (F♯)
- string 3: 14 (A), 16 (B), 17 (C)
- string 2: 14 (C♯), 17 (E)
- string 1: 16 (F♯)
Fretboard positions
The positions are the pentatonic boxes with the passing note (♭3) fitted in between the notes of the box. Box 1 starts on the root (A).
Use Degrees to see the role of each note (1 is the root) and Listen to hear the selected position going up and down.
Formula
- A
- W
- B
- H
- C
- H
- C♯
- 1½W
- E
- W
- F♯
- 1½W
- A
Degrees: 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 3 · 5 · 6. Steps: W – H – H – 1½W – W – 1½W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the major blues scale
Major pentatonic with the minor third as a passing note. Happy, with a touch of blues.
Scales with the same notes
Relative minor: F sharp blues scale . Same notes, different center.
More A scales
- Major
- Natural minor
- Harmonic minor
- Melodic minor
- Major pentatonic
- Minor pentatonic
- Blues
- Major blues
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Locrian
- Nordestina (Brazilian baião)
- Phrygian dominant
- Whole-tone
- Diminished (whole-half)
- Dominant diminished (half-whole)
Major blues in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the A major blues scale?
The notes of the A major blues scale are A, B, C, C sharp, E, and F sharp. The root, degree 1, is A.
What is the formula of the A major blues scale?
In degrees: 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 3 · 5 · 6. In steps between the notes: W – H – H – 1½W – W – 1½W (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do you play the A major blues scale on cavaquinho?
The positions are the pentatonic boxes with the passing note (♭3) fitted in between the notes of the box. Box 1 starts on the root (A). There are 5 boxes on cavaquinho, each with the full fingering.