# The blues scale

*Module 12 · Lesson 3: Pentatonic and blues · BazzLow*

> Add the "blue note" to the minor pentatonic and use it correctly.

Before this lesson: [12.2 The minor pentatonic scale](https://bazzlow.com/en/pentatonic-and-blues/minor-pentatonic/)

One extra note turns the minor pentatonic into the sound of the blues.

## The blue note

The **blues scale** is the minor pentatonic plus the **♭5**: **1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7**. A blues is A C D E♭ E G. The ♭5 is the **blue note**. Together with the ♭3 and the ♭7, these are the “blue notes” that give the blues its tension against major chords.

> **Diagram:** A blues scale from the root at fret 5 on the E string: A C | D E♭ E on the A string (frets 5, 6, 7) | G A on the D string (frets 5, 7). The ♭5 is E♭ at fret 6.

*The blues scale in four keys.*

| Key | Blues scale |
| --- | --- |
| A | A C D E♭ E G |
| E | E G A B♭ B D |
| C | C E♭ F G♭ G B♭ |
| G | G B♭ C D♭ D F |

## Using it correctly

The ♭5 is a **passing note**. It almost always moves by half step to the 4 or the 5, and it is rarely held. As a spelling convention, the extra note is often written as **♭5 going down** (E♭ in A) and **♯4 going up** (D♯ in A). Both are used.

Another scale is sometimes called the “major blues”: the major pentatonic plus ♭3, **1 2 ♭3 3 5 6**, where the ♭3 slides into the 3. It is only mentioned here.

## Try it

Play A blues scale slowly up and down. Then play only 4 – ♭5 – 5 (D, E♭, E) and back, and listen to the ♭5 lead into the 5.

## New terms

- blues scale
- blue note

Page: https://bazzlow.com/en/pentatonic-and-blues/blues-scale/