A blues scale
The A minor pentatonic plus a sixth note: the flat fifth, or “blue note.” It’s what gives the blues its color, slipped in between the fourth and the fifth.
- Notes:
- A, C, D, E♭, E, G.
- Formula:
- 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 5, ♭7.
- Style:
- Blues, rock, jazz.
- Difficulty:
- Beginner.
On the neck
Every note of the scale on the neck (choose 12, 15 or 19 frets). Click to listen.
High E at the top, just like in tab.Neck seen from the front, headstock at the top: low E on the left, just like a chord diagram.
Play the scale notes over it. Open in the Studio
Chords that go with it
The chords built on the notes of the scale: improvise with this scale over any progression that uses them.
Progressions to use it on
Loop the first one and improvise over it:
All 5 positions
These are the five minor pentatonic positions, plus the blue note (in purple) wherever it falls in the position. Position 1 starts on the root, on the 6th string.
Position 1: frets 5 to 8
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------5-8-| B|---------------------5-8-----| G|---------------5-7-8---------| D|-----------5-7---------------| A|-----5-6-7-------------------| E|-5-8-------------------------|
Position 2: frets 7 to 10
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|---------------------------8-10-| B|----------------------8-10------| G|----------------7-8-9-----------| D|-----------7-10-----------------| A|------7-10----------------------| E|-8-10---------------------------|
Position 3: frets 9 to 13
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|------------------------------------10-11-12-| B|------------------------------10-13----------| G|-------------------------9-12----------------| D|----------------10-12-13---------------------| A|----------10-12------------------------------| E|-10-11-12------------------------------------|
Position 4: frets 0 to 3
It also works an octave higher, frets 12 to 15.
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-----------------------0-3-| B|-------------------1-3-----| G|---------------0-2---------| D|---------0-1-2-------------| A|-----0-3-------------------| E|-0-3-----------------------|
Position 5: frets 2 to 5
It also works an octave higher, frets 14 to 17.
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-----------------------3-5-| B|-----------------3-4-5-----| G|-------------2-5-----------| D|---------2-5---------------| A|-----3-5-------------------| E|-3-5-----------------------|