About the C#/Db Blues Scale
The C#/Db blues scale is a 6-note scale. Minor pentatonic with added blue note (♭5). Its notes are C#, E, F#, G, G# and B, built from the formula 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7.
- Notes
- C# – E – F# – G – G# – B
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7
- Steps
- W+H W H H W+H W (3–2–1–1–3–2 semitones)
- Root
- C#/Db
C#/Db Blues Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C# | Root |
| ♭3 | E | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | F# | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | G | Tritone (♭5) |
| 5 | G# | Perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | B | Minor 7th |
Where to play the C#/Db Blues Scale on bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (C#) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E1 | 0, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 12 |
| A1 | 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11 |
| D2 | 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11 |
| G2 | 0, 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12 |
How to practice the blues scale
- Emphasize the blue note (♭5) with bends
- Practice chromatic runs through the ♭5
- Work on vibrato on sustained notes
- Try call-and-response phrasing
- Mix with major pentatonic for major blues
Blues scale in other keys
Other scales in C#/Db
- C#/Db Minor Pentatonic
- C#/Db Major Pentatonic
- C#/Db Mixolydian Pentatonic
- C#/Db Natural Minor
- C#/Db Major (Ionian)
- C#/Db Dorian
- C#/Db Mixolydian
- C#/Db Phrygian
- C#/Db Harmonic Minor
- C#/Db Lydian
- C#/Db Locrian
- C#/Db Diminished (Half-Whole)
- C#/Db Diminished (Whole-Half)
- C#/Db Whole Tone
- C#/Db Augmented (Hexatonic)
- C#/Db Altered (Super Locrian)
- C#/Db Phrygian Dominant
- C#/Db Lydian Dominant
- C#/Db Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- C#/Db Bebop Dominant
- C#/Db Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- C#/Db Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)