About the G#/Ab Blues Scale
The G#/Ab blues scale is a 6-note scale. Minor pentatonic with added blue note (♭5). Its notes are G#, B, C#, D, D# and F#, built from the formula 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7.
- Notes
- G# – B – C# – D – D# – F#
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7
- Steps
- W+H W H H W+H W (3–2–1–1–3–2 semitones)
- Root
- G#/Ab
G#/Ab Blues Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G# | Root |
| ♭3 | B | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | C# | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | D | Tritone (♭5) |
| 5 | D# | Perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | F# | Minor 7th |
Where to play the G#/Ab Blues Scale on 5-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (G#) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 0, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 12 |
| E1 | 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11 |
| A1 | 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11 |
| D2 | 0, 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12 |
| G2 | 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11 |
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 G#/Ab
- G#/Ab Minor Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Major Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Mixolydian Pentatonic
- G#/Ab Natural Minor
- G#/Ab Major (Ionian)
- G#/Ab Dorian
- G#/Ab Mixolydian
- G#/Ab Phrygian
- G#/Ab Harmonic Minor
- G#/Ab Lydian
- G#/Ab Locrian
- G#/Ab Diminished (Half-Whole)
- G#/Ab Diminished (Whole-Half)
- G#/Ab Whole Tone
- G#/Ab Augmented (Hexatonic)
- G#/Ab Altered (Super Locrian)
- G#/Ab Phrygian Dominant
- G#/Ab Lydian Dominant
- G#/Ab Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- G#/Ab Bebop Dominant
- G#/Ab Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- G#/Ab Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)