G blues scale
The G 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:
- G, B♭, C, D♭, D, F.
- 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 3 to 6
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------3-6-| B|---------------------3-6-----| G|---------------3-5-6---------| D|-----------3-5---------------| A|-----3-4-5-------------------| E|-3-6-------------------------|
Position 2: frets 5 to 8
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-----------------------6-8-| B|-------------------6-8-----| G|-------------5-6-7---------| D|---------5-8---------------| A|-----5-8-------------------| E|-6-8-----------------------|
Position 3: frets 7 to 11
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------8-9-10-| B|--------------------------8-11--------| G|---------------------7-10-------------| D|-------------8-10-11------------------| A|--------8-10--------------------------| E|-8-9-10-------------------------------|
Position 4: frets 10 to 13
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|----------------------------------10-13-| B|----------------------------11-13-------| G|----------------------10-12-------------| D|-------------10-11-12-------------------| A|-------10-13----------------------------| E|-10-13----------------------------------|
Position 5: 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|-----------------------1-3-| B|-----------------1-2-3-----| G|-------------0-3-----------| D|---------0-3---------------| A|-----1-3-------------------| E|-1-3-----------------------|