A blues scale on guitar
The A blues scale has 6 notes: A C D E♭ E G (A, C, D, E flat, E, and G). The diagrams work the same for acoustic and electric guitar.
- A 1
- C ♭3
- D 4
- E♭ E flat ♭5
- E 5
- G ♭7
Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 15. The root (A) is highlighted.
Positions as text
Box 5 (frets 2 to 6), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 3 (G), 5 (A)
- string 5: 3 (C), 5 (D), 6 (E♭)
- string 4: 2 (E), 5 (G)
- string 3: 2 (A), 5 (C)
- string 2: 3 (D), 4 (E♭), 5 (E)
- string 1: 3 (G), 5 (A)
Box 1 (frets 5 to 8), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 5 (A), 8 (C)
- string 5: 5 (D), 6 (E♭), 7 (E)
- string 4: 5 (G), 7 (A)
- string 3: 5 (C), 7 (D), 8 (E♭)
- string 2: 5 (E), 8 (G)
- string 1: 5 (A), 8 (C)
Box 2 (frets 7 to 11), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 8 (C), 10 (D), 11 (E♭)
- string 5: 7 (E), 10 (G)
- string 4: 7 (A), 10 (C)
- string 3: 7 (D), 8 (E♭), 9 (E)
- string 2: 8 (G), 10 (A)
- string 1: 8 (C), 10 (D)
Box 3 (frets 9 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 10 (D), 11 (E♭), 12 (E)
- string 5: 10 (G), 12 (A)
- string 4: 10 (C), 12 (D), 13 (E♭)
- string 3: 9 (E), 12 (G)
- string 2: 10 (A), 13 (C)
- string 1: 10 (D), 11 (E♭), 12 (E)
Box 4 (frets 11 to 15), from the lowest note to the highest:
- string 6: 12 (E), 15 (G)
- string 5: 12 (A), 15 (C)
- string 4: 12 (D), 13 (E♭), 14 (E)
- string 3: 12 (G), 14 (A)
- string 2: 13 (C), 15 (D)
- string 1: 11 (E♭), 12 (E), 15 (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 (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
- 1½W
- C
- W
- D
- H
- E♭
- H
- E
- 1½W
- G
- W
- A
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: C major 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)
Blues in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the A blues scale?
The notes of the A blues scale are A, C, D, E flat, E, and G. The root, degree 1, is A.
What is the formula of the A 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 A blues scale on guitar?
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 guitar, each with the full fingering.