G major blues scale on cavaquinho
The G major blues scale has 6 notes: G A B♭ B D E (G, A, B flat, B, D, and E).
- G 1
- A 2
- B♭ B flat ♭3
- B 3
- D 5
- E 6
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 17. The root (G) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Box 1 (frets 4 to 9), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 5 (G), 7 (A), 8 (B♭)
- string 3: 4 (B), 7 (D)
- string 2: 5 (E), 8 (G)
- string 1: 7 (A), 8 (B♭), 9 (B)
Box 2 (frets 7 to 11), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 7 (A), 8 (B♭), 9 (B)
- string 3: 7 (D), 9 (E)
- string 2: 8 (G), 10 (A), 11 (B♭)
- string 1: 9 (B)
Box 3 (frets 9 to 12), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 9 (B), 12 (D)
- string 3: 9 (E), 12 (G)
- string 2: 10 (A), 11 (B♭), 12 (B)
- string 1: 12 (D)
Box 4 (frets 12 to 15), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 12 (D), 14 (E)
- string 3: 12 (G), 14 (A), 15 (B♭)
- string 2: 12 (B), 15 (D)
- string 1: 14 (E)
Box 5 (frets 14 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 4: 14 (E), 17 (G)
- string 3: 14 (A), 15 (B♭), 16 (B)
- string 2: 15 (D), 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 (G).
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
- G
- W
- A
- H
- B♭
- H
- B
- 1½W
- D
- W
- E
- 1½W
- G
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: E blues scale . Same notes, different center.
More G 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 G major blues scale?
The notes of the G major blues scale are G, A, B flat, B, D, and E. The root, degree 1, is G.
What is the formula of the G 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 G 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 (G). There are 5 boxes on cavaquinho, each with the full fingering.