About the E Blues Scale
The E blues scale is a 6-note scale. Minor pentatonic with added blue note (♭5). Its notes are E, G, A, A#, B and D, built from the formula 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7.
- Notes
- E – G – A – A# – B – 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
- E
E Blues Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | Root |
| ♭3 | G | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | A | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | A# | Tritone (♭5) |
| 5 | B | Perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | D | Minor 7th |
Where to play the E Blues Scale on guitar
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (E A D G B E), lowest string first. Root notes (E) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| E2 | 0, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12 |
| A2 | 0, 1, 2, 5, 7, 10, 12 |
| D3 | 0, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12 |
| G3 | 0, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 12 |
| B3 | 0, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12 |
| E4 | 0, 3, 5, 6, 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 E
- E Minor Pentatonic
- E Major Pentatonic
- E Mixolydian Pentatonic
- E Natural Minor
- E Major (Ionian)
- E Dorian
- E Mixolydian
- E Phrygian
- E Harmonic Minor
- E Lydian
- E Locrian
- E Diminished (Half-Whole)
- E Diminished (Whole-Half)
- E Whole Tone
- E Augmented (Hexatonic)
- E Altered (Super Locrian)
- E Phrygian Dominant
- E Lydian Dominant
- E Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- E Bebop Dominant
- E Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- E Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)