The notes of the A blues scale
The A blues scale is A – C – D – E♭ – E – G, six notes, written 1 – ♭3 – 4 – ♭5 – 5 – ♭7. Compare that with A minor pentatonic (A C D E G, or 1 ♭3 4 5 ♭7): the only addition is E♭, the flat 5th, tucked between the 4th (D) and the 5th (E).
Box 1 of the A blues scale (5th fret)
This is the A minor pentatonic Box 1 with two blue notes added: E♭ on the A string at fret 6 and on the G string at fret 8. Roots (A) are highlighted.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| High E | 5 · 8 | A · C |
| B | 5 · 8 | E · G |
| G | 5 · 7 · 8 | C · D · E♭ |
| D | 5 · 7 | G · A |
| A | 5 · 6 · 7 | D · E♭ · E |
| Low E | 5 · 8 | A · C |
Fingering: index on fret 5, ring finger on 7, pinky on 8. On the A string the blue note at fret 6 falls under your middle finger, so you can walk 5-6-7 as a chromatic run. On the G string the blue note at fret 8 sits under your pinky, right after the D at fret 7.
It's a shape, so it moves
Slide Box 1 so the low E root sits on a different fret and you have a different key: root on fret 3 is G blues, on fret 7 is B blues. The guitar scale finder guide shows how to match a scale to a key.
How to use it over a 12-bar blues in A
A standard 12-bar blues in A uses three chords: A (I), D (IV) and E (V). The A blues scale fits all three, which is why it is the first scale many players learn for blues.
- Land on the roots. Start and end phrases on A (low E fret 5 or D string fret 7), especially over the A chord.
- Treat the blue note as a passing tone. Slide through E♭ on the way from D to E, as in the 5-6-7 run on the A string. Don't park on it.
- Bend into it. Bending D up toward E♭ and E is a classic blues move.
- Follow the chord changes. On the D chord, aim for D (G string fret 7). On the E chord, aim for E (B string fret 5).
- Leave space. Three or four notes with room between them sounds more like blues than a fast run up and down the box.
Blues scale, minor pentatonic or major pentatonic?
- Minor pentatonic: the dependable default. Five notes, nothing to avoid.
- Blues scale: the same, plus the ♭5 for tension. Add it once the minor pentatonic is comfortable.
- Major pentatonic: a sweeter, brighter sound. Each major key shares its notes with a relative minor, so the same shapes serve both.
See the blues scale on the neck in Fretkit
Fret tables show one box at a time. In Fretkit you pick a root and a scale and the notes light up across the whole fretboard with the root marked, for guitar or bass. The scale list includes blues alongside minor and major pentatonic and the seven modes, so you can compare pentatonic and blues in the same key and see which note is added. Fretkit will not teach you to play; the practice is still yours.
See the blue note on the fretboard
Pick a root, choose Blues, and watch the notes light up across the neck. Free to start, native for iPhone, iPad and Mac, no account. Some features are part of a paid tier.
Get Fretkit on the App StoreFrequently asked questions
What notes are in the A blues scale?
A, C, D, E♭, E and G. It is A minor pentatonic with one added note, E♭, the flat 5th or blue note.
What is the difference between the blues scale and the minor pentatonic?
The blues scale has six notes, the minor pentatonic five. The only difference is the added flat 5th.
Can I play the A blues scale over a 12-bar blues in A?
Yes. It fits the A, D and E chords. Use the blue note as a passing tone rather than a note to hold.