F blues scale on piano
The F blues scale on piano has 6 notes: F, A flat, B flat, C flat, C, and E flat (F, A♭, B♭, C♭, C, E♭). It uses 3 black keys: A♭, B♭, E♭.
- F 1
- A♭ A flat ♭3
- B♭ B flat 4
- C♭ C flat ♭5
- C 5
- E♭ E flat ♭7
The highlighted keys are the notes of the scale, with the name and the degree; the tonic (F) has the strongest color. Tap a key to hear the note; "Play" goes up and down. The small dot marks middle C (C4).
Fingering for the F blues scale
This scale has no single fingering in piano method books. A rule that works: never put the thumb on a black key, and pass the thumb right after a black key. Fingers: 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = little finger.
Formula
- F
- 1½W
- A♭
- W
- B♭
- H
- C♭
- H
- C
- 1½W
- E♭
- W
- F
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: A flat major blues scale . Same notes, different center.
More F 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 F blues scale?
The notes of the F blues scale are F, A flat, B flat, C flat, C, and E flat. It uses 3 black keys: A♭, B♭, E♭.
What is the formula of the F blues scale?
In degrees: 1 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · 5 · ♭7. In steps between notes: 1½W – W – H – H – 1½W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).