stringery

A blues scale

Minor pentatonic plus one 'blue' note. Dominant family

Bluesy, raw, a little dirty.

Root position2 of 5

35791215

Square: the root. In colour: the flat 5th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. AR1½
  2. C♭3W
  3. D4H
  4. E♭♭5H
  5. E51½
  6. G♭7W

The flat 5th sits between the 4th and 5th. Slide through it and you get the crying sound of the blues.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckA blues

12345EADGBE357912155♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭345♭7R♭34♭55♭7
12345EADGBE357912155♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭34♭55♭7R♭345♭7R♭34♭55♭7

Position 2 is outlined, frets 5 to 8. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home