A Blues scale

Q: What is the Blues scale scale?

Blues scale is a sequence of notes built on a specific interval formula. Each scale has a characteristic sound: major sounds bright, minor sounds melancholic, exotic scales sound sharp or mysterious.

Q: How do I play the Blues scale scale on guitar?

Choose a root note on the fretboard and follow the position diagram above. Start slowly, practising each position ascending and descending. Use a metronome and gradually increase the BPM.

Q: What music styles use the Blues scale scale?

Each scale has its own character and genre associations. See the theory block on this page: it lists characteristic styles and famous song examples.

Q: How do I transpose the Blues scale scale to another key?

Use the root selector at the top of the page — all positions automatically adjust to the chosen root. The fingering patterns stay the same; only the starting fret changes.

Q: What is the difference between scales and modes?

A scale is a set of notes. A mode is a scale viewed from a specific degree. For example, C major and D Dorian contain the same notes but start from different degrees and sound different.

Minor pentatonic with an added b5 (blue note). Characteristic scale for blues improvisation.

How to play the scale

Notes

Direction

Музыкальный контекст

АккордA MinorТрезвучие

АрпеджиоA Minor arpeggioТрезвучие

ГаммаA blues scaleБлюзовая гамма

ТональностьA MinorМинорная тональность

ПрогрессияClassic I-IV-VБазовая последовательность

Показывает, как текущий элемент связан с ладом, тональностью и используется в музыке.

Theory

General info

Name: A Blues scale
Type: Minor
Note count: 6
Description: Minor pentatonic with an added b5 (blue note). Characteristic scale for blues improvisation.

Notes & degrees

Degrees, notes & intervals: 1Aroot
2Cminor 3rd
3Dperfect 4th
4D#tritone
5Eperfect 5th
6Gminor 7th

Interval formula: A3 stC2 stD1 stD#1 stE3 stG
Brief explanation: A Blues scale follows the pattern WH – W – H – H – WH – W from root A. It is a 6-note scale with a minor character.

How it sounds

Character: Dark, expressive
Characteristic interval: Tritone (Augmented 4th)TT · 6 st
Description: The added diminished fifth (6 semitones) — the blues note creating characteristic tension.
Where recognized: Blues, blues rock
Jazz blues, soul
Characteristic blues bends

🎹 A Blues scale scale on piano →

Harmonic context

Blue note creates characteristic tension on I7, IV7, V7 progressions. Blues improvisation foundation.

Tendencies & resolutions

Pillar degrees: 1A(Ля)root
5E(Ми)perfect 5th
Characteristic degrees: 2C(До)raised 2nd degree
3D(Ре)raised 3rd degree
4D#(Ре-диез)raised 4th degree
6G(Соль)raised 6th degree

Connections & usage

Compatible chords

Chords whose notes all belong to this scale. Suitable for accompaniment and harmonization.

Circle of Fifths

Position of the key on the Circle of Fifths. Click a neighboring key to open the same scale in that key.

A major

Relative key: F#m
Dominant: E
Subdominant: D
Key signature: 3#

Diatonic chords

IAmajorA C# ETonic iiBmminorB D F# iiiC#mminorC# E G# IVDmajorD F# ASubdominant VEmajorE G# BDominant viF#mminorF# A C# vii°G#dimdimG# B DLeading tone

Musical application

Genres

Blues, blues rock, jazz blues

In melody

Blues phrases with characteristic bends on the blue note. Expressive vibrato.

In improvisation

Blues improvisation — bends, slides, hammer-ons. Blue note (#4/b5) is key to character.

In harmonic thinking

12-bar blues: I7–IV7–V7. Blues rock vamps and shuffles.

Musical context

Blues, blues rock, jazz blues, soul. Foundation of all guitar improvisation.

Play this scale

Practice positions and patterns on the interactive fretboard.

Open fretboard trainer

What to learn next

Progression12-bar bluesProgression that works well with this mode

Compare all

Diatonic chords (C)

C (I)Dm (ii)Em (iii)F (IV)G (V)Am (vi)B° (vii°)

Fitting progressions

12-bar blues (I7-I7-I7-I7-IV7-IV7-I7-I7-V7-IV7-I7-V7)Quick-change blues (I7-IV7-I7-I7-IV7-IV7-I7-I7-V7-IV7-I7-V7)R&B shuffle (I7-IV7-V7-IV7)

Other modes

Ionian (major)Dorian Phrygian Lydian

Recommended for you

What is the Blues scale scale?

How do I play the Blues scale scale on guitar?

What music styles use the Blues scale scale?

How do I transpose the Blues scale scale to another key?

What is the difference between scales and modes?

A Blues scale

Minor pentatonic with an added b5 (blue note). Characteristic scale for blues improvisation.

How to play the scale

Notes

Direction

Музыкальный контекст

АккордA MinorТрезвучие

АрпеджиоA Minor arpeggioТрезвучие

ГаммаA blues scaleБлюзовая гамма

ТональностьA MinorМинорная тональность

ПрогрессияClassic I-IV-VБазовая последовательность

Показывает, как текущий элемент связан с ладом, тональностью и используется в музыке.

Theory

General info

Name: A Blues scale
Type: Minor
Note count: 6
Description: Minor pentatonic with an added b5 (blue note). Characteristic scale for blues improvisation.

Notes & degrees

Degrees, notes & intervals: 1Aroot
2Cminor 3rd
3Dperfect 4th
4D#tritone
5Eperfect 5th
6Gminor 7th

Interval formula: A3 stC2 stD1 stD#1 stE3 stG
Brief explanation: A Blues scale follows the pattern WH – W – H – H – WH – W from root A. It is a 6-note scale with a minor character.

How it sounds

Character: Dark, expressive
Characteristic interval: Tritone (Augmented 4th)TT · 6 st
Description: The added diminished fifth (6 semitones) — the blues note creating characteristic tension.
Where recognized: Blues, blues rock
Jazz blues, soul
Characteristic blues bends

🎹 A Blues scale scale on piano →

Harmonic context

Blue note creates characteristic tension on I7, IV7, V7 progressions. Blues improvisation foundation.

Tendencies & resolutions

Pillar degrees: 1A(Ля)root
5E(Ми)perfect 5th
Characteristic degrees: 2C(До)raised 2nd degree
3D(Ре)raised 3rd degree
4D#(Ре-диез)raised 4th degree
6G(Соль)raised 6th degree

Connections & usage

Compatible chords

Chords whose notes all belong to this scale. Suitable for accompaniment and harmonization.

Circle of Fifths

Position of the key on the Circle of Fifths. Click a neighboring key to open the same scale in that key.

A major

Relative key: F#m
Dominant: E
Subdominant: D
Key signature: 3#

Diatonic chords

IAmajorA C# ETonic iiBmminorB D F# iiiC#mminorC# E G# IVDmajorD F# ASubdominant VEmajorE G# BDominant viF#mminorF# A C# vii°G#dimdimG# B DLeading tone

Musical application

Genres

Blues, blues rock, jazz blues

In melody

Blues phrases with characteristic bends on the blue note. Expressive vibrato.

In improvisation

Blues improvisation — bends, slides, hammer-ons. Blue note (#4/b5) is key to character.

In harmonic thinking

12-bar blues: I7–IV7–V7. Blues rock vamps and shuffles.

Musical context

Blues, blues rock, jazz blues, soul. Foundation of all guitar improvisation.

Play this scale

Practice positions and patterns on the interactive fretboard.

Open fretboard trainer

What to learn next

Progression12-bar bluesProgression that works well with this mode

Compare all

Diatonic chords (C)

C (I)Dm (ii)Em (iii)F (IV)G (V)Am (vi)B° (vii°)

Fitting progressions

12-bar blues (I7-I7-I7-I7-IV7-IV7-I7-I7-V7-IV7-I7-V7)Quick-change blues (I7-IV7-I7-I7-IV7-IV7-I7-I7-V7-IV7-I7-V7)R&B shuffle (I7-IV7-V7-IV7)

Other modes

Ionian (major)Dorian Phrygian Lydian

Recommended for you

What is the Blues scale scale?

How do I play the Blues scale scale on guitar?

What music styles use the Blues scale scale?

How do I transpose the Blues scale scale to another key?

What is the difference between scales and modes?

Chords & Arpeggios

Scales & Modes

Harmony & Theory

Tools & Practice

A Blues scale

How to play the scale

Музыкальный контекст

Theory

General info

Notes & degrees

How it sounds

Harmonic context

Tendencies & resolutions

Connections & usage

Compatible chords

Related scales

Circle of Fifths

A major

Diatonic chords

Musical application

Genres

In melody

In improvisation

In harmonic thinking

Musical context

Play this scale

What to learn next

Related

Recommended for you

Frequently Asked Questions

A Blues scale

How to play the scale

Музыкальный контекст

Theory

General info

Notes & degrees

How it sounds

Harmonic context

Tendencies & resolutions

Connections & usage

Compatible chords

Related scales

Circle of Fifths

A major

Diatonic chords

Musical application

Genres

In melody

In improvisation

In harmonic thinking

Musical context

Play this scale

What to learn next

Related

Recommended for you

Frequently Asked Questions