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Blues scale
How to play the blues scale
C blues is C E♭ F G♭ G B♭ C. The formula, 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7, works from any starting note.
The G♭ is the blue note. Use it in passing between F and G rather than landing on it.
There is no single standard fingering for this scale. Keep the thumb on the white keys, and let fingers 2 and 3 take the black keys.
Blues scale in all 12 keys
| Key | Notes |
|---|---|
| C blues | C E♭ F G♭ G B♭ C |
| D♭ blues | D♭ F♭ G♭ A𝄫 A♭ C♭ D♭ |
| D blues | D F G A♭ A C D |
| E♭ blues | E♭ G♭ A♭ B𝄫 B♭ D♭ E♭ |
| E blues | E G A B♭ B D E |
| F blues | F A♭ B♭ C♭ C E♭ F |
| F♯ blues | F♯ A B C C♯ E F♯ |
| G blues | G B♭ C D♭ D F G |
| A♭ blues | A♭ C♭ D♭ E𝄫 E♭ G♭ A♭ |
| A blues | A C D E♭ E G A |
| B♭ blues | B♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ F A♭ B♭ |
| B blues | B D E F F♯ A B |