ScalesF# Blues
Guitar scale · fretboard map
F# Blues Scale
The F# Blues scale is built from the notes F#, A, B, B#, C#, and E. 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
F#1
Ab3
B4
B#b5
C#5
Eb7
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#, A, B, B#, C#, and E. 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.