C♯ blues scale
The C♯ 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:
- C♯, E, F♯, G, G♯, B.
- 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 9 to 12
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|--------------------------------9-12-| B|---------------------------9-12------| G|-------------------9-11-12-----------| D|--------------9-11-------------------| A|------9-10-11------------------------| E|-9-12--------------------------------|
Position 2: frets 11 to 14
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|----------------------------------12-14-| B|----------------------------12-14-------| G|-------------------11-12-13-------------| D|-------------11-14----------------------| A|-------11-14----------------------------| E|-12-14----------------------------------|
Position 3: frets 1 to 5
It also works an octave higher, frets 13 to 17.
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------2-3-4-| B|---------------------2-5-------| G|-----------------1-4-----------| D|-----------2-4-5---------------| A|-------2-4---------------------| E|-2-3-4-------------------------|
Position 4: frets 4 to 7
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-----------------------4-7-| B|-------------------5-7-----| G|---------------4-6---------| D|---------4-5-6-------------| A|-----4-7-------------------| E|-4-7-----------------------|
Position 5: frets 6 to 9
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-----------------------7-9-| B|-----------------7-8-9-----| G|-------------6-9-----------| D|---------6-9---------------| A|-----7-9-------------------| E|-7-9-----------------------|