A blues scale is a six-note scale that contains the same notes as a pentatonic scale but with an additional note, often referred to as the blues note.
As with pentatonic scales, blues scales can be major or minor.
This post will cover how to construct a major blues scale. It will also provide a common fingering for the scale, along with instruction on how to play it on a guitar in any key.
Major Blues Scales: Theory
The scale formula for a major blues scale is 1, 2, b3, 3, 5, 6.
A major blues scale contains the first, second, flatted third, third, fifth and sixth degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
C Major Blues Scale
For example, a C major blues scale contains the notes C, D, Eb, E, G and A — the first, second, flatted third, third, fifth and sixth notes in a C major scale (fig.1).
Fig.1
G Major Blues Scale
A G major blues scale contains the notes G, A, Bb, B, D and E — the first, second, flatted third, third, fifth and sixth notes in a G major scale (fig.2).
Fig.2
Relationship to a Major Pentatonic Scale
While a scale is always compared to the major scale with the same root note to determine its numerical formula, it’s often useful to compare a scale to another, similar scale.
We will compare a major blues scale to the major pentatonic scale with the same root note.
The scale formula for a major pentatonic scale is 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.
The scale formula for a major blues scale is 1, 2, b3, 3, 5, 6.
A major blues scale is a major pentatonic scale with the addition of a flatted third scale degree (the blues note).
Constructing a Major Blues Scale
So we can construct a major blues scale by adding a flatted third scale degree to the major pentatonic scale with the same root note.
C Major Blues Scale
For example, a C major blues scale contains the same notes as a C major pentatonic scale, with the addition of a flatted third scale degree, Eb (fig.3, highlighted in blue).
Fig.3
G Major Blues Scale
A G major blues scale contains the same notes as a G major pentatonic scale, with the addition of a flatted third scale degree, Bb (fig.4, highlighted in blue).
Fig.4
All 12 Major Blues Scales
All 12 major blues scales are shown in fig.5, along with their corresponding major pentatonic scales.
The flatted third scale degrees in the blues scales are highlighted in blue.
Fig.5
Major Blues Scales: On a Guitar
Fig.6 shows a common fingering for a major blues scale. The blues notes are highlighted in green.
Fig.6
This fingering will allow you to play a major blues scale starting on any note:
- To play a C major blues scale, start the pattern on the C on the sixth string, eighth fret (fig.7a).
- To play a G major blues scale, start the pattern on the G on the sixth string, 15th fret (fig.7b).
Fig.7
Application
A major blues scale’s primary application is to solo over the chords in a major key, 12-bar blues chord progression (or any major key chord progression when you are trying to create a bluesy sound).
Be careful how you handle the flatted third scale degree (the blues note) when soloing with a major blues scale. It is not diatonic and will clash with the chords, creating tension.
If you sustain the blues note for too long it will sound wrong, like you made a mistake. So handle with care.
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