B blues scale on cavaquinho
The B blues scale has 6 notes: B D E F F♯ A (B, D, E, F, F sharp, and A).
- B 1
- D ♭3
- E 4
- F ♭5
- F♯ F sharp 5
- A ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 17. The root (B) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Box 4 (frets 4 to 7), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 4 (F♯), 7 (A)
- string 3: 4 (B), 7 (D)
- string 2: 5 (E), 6 (F), 7 (F♯)
- string 1: 7 (A)
Box 5 (frets 7 to 10), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 7 (A), 9 (B)
- string 3: 7 (D), 9 (E), 10 (F)
- string 2: 7 (F♯), 10 (A)
- string 1: 9 (B)
Box 1 (frets 9 to 12), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 9 (B), 12 (D)
- string 3: 9 (E), 10 (F), 11 (F♯)
- string 2: 10 (A), 12 (B)
- string 1: 12 (D)
Box 2 (frets 11 to 16), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 12 (D), 14 (E), 15 (F)
- string 3: 11 (F♯), 14 (A)
- string 2: 12 (B), 15 (D)
- string 1: 14 (E), 15 (F), 16 (F♯)
Box 3 (frets 14 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 14 (E), 15 (F), 16 (F♯)
- string 3: 14 (A), 16 (B)
- string 2: 15 (D), 17 (E)
- string 1: 15 (F), 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 (B).
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
- B
- 1½W
- D
- W
- E
- H
- F
- H
- F♯
- 1½W
- A
- W
- B
Degrees: 1 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · 5 · ♭7. Steps: 1½W – W – H – H – 1½W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
About the blues scale
Minor pentatonic plus the "blue note" (flat fifth). The sound of the blues.
Scales with the same notes
Relative major: D major blues scale . Same notes, different center.
More B 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)
Blues in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the B blues scale?
The notes of the B blues scale are B, D, E, F, F sharp, and A. The root, degree 1, is B.
What is the formula of the B blues scale?
In degrees: 1 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · 5 · ♭7. In steps between the notes: 1½W – W – H – H – 1½W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).
How do you play the B 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 (B). There are 5 boxes on cavaquinho, each with the full fingering.