ScalesF Blues
Guitar scale · fretboard map
F Blues Scale
The F Blues scale is built from the notes F, Ab, Bb, B, C, and Eb. 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 F 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 F Blues scale
F1
Abb3
Bb4
Bb5
C5
Ebb7
F Blues scale on the fretboard
root (F) 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 F
F MajorF Natural MinorF Major PentatonicF Minor PentatonicF DorianF PhrygianF LydianF MixolydianF Harmonic Minor
The blues scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
- What notes are in the F Blues scale?
- The F Blues scale contains 6 notes: F, Ab, Bb, B, C, and Eb. As scale degrees those are 1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7.
- How do you play the F 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 (F) highlighted. The pattern is movable: learn the shape once and you can slide it to start on any root. Anchor your playing to the F notes so the scale sounds resolved.
- What is the F 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 F and listen for how each note pulls back toward the root.