C major blues scale on cavaquinho
The C major blues scale has 6 notes: C D E♭ E G A (C, D, E flat, E, G, and A).
- C 1
- D 2
- E♭ E flat ♭3
- E 3
- G 5
- A 6
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 17. The root (C) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Box 4 (frets 5 to 8), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 5 (G), 7 (A)
- string 3: 5 (C), 7 (D), 8 (E♭)
- string 2: 5 (E), 8 (G)
- string 1: 7 (A)
Box 5 (frets 7 to 10), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 7 (A), 10 (C)
- string 3: 7 (D), 8 (E♭), 9 (E)
- string 2: 8 (G), 10 (A)
- string 1: 10 (C)
Box 1 (frets 9 to 14), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 10 (C), 12 (D), 13 (E♭)
- string 3: 9 (E), 12 (G)
- string 2: 10 (A), 13 (C)
- string 1: 12 (D), 13 (E♭), 14 (E)
Box 2 (frets 12 to 16), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 12 (D), 13 (E♭), 14 (E)
- string 3: 12 (G), 14 (A)
- string 2: 13 (C), 15 (D), 16 (E♭)
- string 1: 14 (E)
Box 3 (frets 14 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 14 (E), 17 (G)
- string 3: 14 (A), 17 (C)
- string 2: 15 (D), 16 (E♭), 17 (E)
- string 1: 17 (G)
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 (C).
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
- C
- W
- D
- H
- E♭
- H
- E
- 1½W
- G
- W
- A
- 1½W
- C
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: A blues scale . Same notes, different center.
More C 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 C major blues scale?
The notes of the C major blues scale are C, D, E flat, E, G, and A. The root, degree 1, is C.
What is the formula of the C 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 C 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 (C). There are 5 boxes on cavaquinho, each with the full fingering.