ScalesE Blues
Guitar scale · fretboard map
E Blues Scale
The E Blues scale is built from the notes E, G, A, A#, B, and D. 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 E 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 E Blues scale
E1
Gb3
A4
A#b5
B5
Db7
E Blues scale on the fretboard
root (E) 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 E
E MajorE Natural MinorE Major PentatonicE Minor PentatonicE DorianE PhrygianE LydianE MixolydianE Harmonic Minor
The blues scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
- What notes are in the E Blues scale?
- The E Blues scale contains 6 notes: E, G, A, A#, B, and D. As scale degrees those are 1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7.
- How do you play the E 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 (E) highlighted. The pattern is movable: learn the shape once and you can slide it to start on any root. Anchor your playing to the E notes so the scale sounds resolved.
- What is the E 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 E and listen for how each note pulls back toward the root.