stringery

B blues

Minor pentatonic plus one 'blue' note. Dominant family

Bluesy, raw, a little dirty.

Root position5 of 5

571012

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

Built from

  1. BR1½
  2. D♭3W
  3. E4H
  4. F♭5H
  5. F♯51½
  6. A♭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 neckB blues

12345GCEA571012♭7R♭34♭55♭34♭55♭7R4♭55♭7R♭34♭7R♭34♭55♭7
12345GCEA571012♭7R♭34♭55♭34♭55♭7R4♭55♭7R♭34♭7R♭34♭55♭7

Position 5 is outlined, frets 11 to 12. 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