About the F Blues Scale
The F blues scale is a 6-note scale. Minor pentatonic with added blue note (♭5). Its notes are F, G#, A#, B, C and D#, built from the formula 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7.
- Notes
- F – G# – A# – B – C – D#
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7
- Steps
- W+H W H H W+H W (3–2–1–1–3–2 semitones)
- Root
- F
F Blues Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Root |
| ♭3 | G# | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | A# | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | B | Tritone (♭5) |
| 5 | C | Perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | D# | Minor 7th |
Where to play the F Blues Scale on bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (F) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E1 | 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11 |
| A1 | 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 11 |
| D2 | 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10 |
| G2 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 |
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 F
- F Minor Pentatonic
- F Major Pentatonic
- F Mixolydian Pentatonic
- F Natural Minor
- F Major (Ionian)
- F Dorian
- F Mixolydian
- F Phrygian
- F Harmonic Minor
- F Lydian
- F Locrian
- F Diminished (Half-Whole)
- F Diminished (Whole-Half)
- F Whole Tone
- F Augmented (Hexatonic)
- F Altered (Super Locrian)
- F Phrygian Dominant
- F Lydian Dominant
- F Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- F Bebop Dominant
- F Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- F Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)