ScalesA Blues
Guitar scale · fretboard map
A Blues Scale
The A Blues scale is built from the notes A, C, D, D#, E, and G. The diagram below maps every one of those notes across the guitar neck, from the open strings up to the 12th fret, with the root A highlighted.
The blues scale is the minor pentatonic plus one flat-five blue note, the extra note that gives it that crying, vocal sound.
Notes in the A Blues scale
A1
Cb3
D4
D#b5
E5
Gb7
A Blues scale on the fretboard
root (A) other scale notes
Explore this on the interactive fretboard →
The free Fretboard Explorer lets you switch keys and see the CAGED shapes and scale overlays tile the whole neck.
Other scales in A
A MajorA Natural MinorA Major PentatonicA Minor PentatonicA DorianA PhrygianA LydianA MixolydianA Harmonic Minor
The blues scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
- What notes are in the A Blues scale?
- The A Blues scale contains 6 notes: A, C, D, D#, E, and G. As scale degrees those are 1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7.
- How do you play the A Blues scale on guitar?
- Every note above is shown on the fretboard diagram, from the open strings up to the 12th fret, with the root (A) highlighted. The pattern is movable: learn the shape once and you can slide it to start on any root. Anchor your playing to the A notes so the scale sounds resolved.
- What is the A Blues scale used for?
- The blues scale is the minor pentatonic plus one flat-five blue note, the extra note that gives it that crying, vocal sound. Once the shape is under your fingers, try improvising over a backing track in A and listen for how each note pulls back toward the root.