About the G Blues Scale
The G blues scale is a 6-note scale. Minor pentatonic with added blue note (♭5). Its notes are G, A#, C, C#, D and F, built from the formula 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7.
- Notes
- G – A# – C – C# – 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
G Blues Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | Root |
| ♭3 | A# | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | C | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | C# | Tritone (♭5) |
| 5 | D | Perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | F | Minor 7th |
Where to play the G Blues Scale on 6-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G C), lowest string first. Root notes (G) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 11 |
| E1 | 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10 |
| A1 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 |
| D2 | 0, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12 |
| G2 | 0, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12 |
| C3 | 0, 1, 2, 5, 7, 10, 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 G
- G Minor Pentatonic
- G Major Pentatonic
- G Mixolydian Pentatonic
- G Natural Minor
- G Major (Ionian)
- G Dorian
- G Mixolydian
- G Phrygian
- G Harmonic Minor
- G Lydian
- G Locrian
- G Diminished (Half-Whole)
- G Diminished (Whole-Half)
- G Whole Tone
- G Augmented (Hexatonic)
- G Altered (Super Locrian)
- G Phrygian Dominant
- G Lydian Dominant
- G Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- G Bebop Dominant
- G Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- G Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)