Skip to content
Scales

A blues scale

The A blues scale notes: A – C – D – D♯ – E – G. The minor pentatonic plus the “blue note”, the ♭5 between the 4th and 5th. Use it as a passing note, not a resting note.

Notes and steps

A1C♭3D4D♯♭5E5G♭7

Steps: W+H – W – H – H – W+H – W · W = whole step, H = half step

A blues scale on guitar

Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Filled circles are the root.

A blues scale on the guitar fretboardEGACDD♯EACDD♯EGADD♯EGACDGACDD♯EGCDD♯EGAEGACDD♯E357912

A blues scale on piano

A blues scale on the piano keyboardCDEGACDEGAD♯D♯

Other scales from A

The same scale from other notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A blues scale?

A, C, D, D♯, E, G. Step formula: W+H–W–H–H–W+H–W (W = whole step, H = half step).

How do I practise it on guitar?

Every circle on the fretboard is a note of the scale up to fret 12; the filled circles mark the root (A). Start in one position (within 4–5 frets), root to root, slowly, with a metronome.

Practise with us

Music tools for practice

Tune up, keep time and train your ear – free, no sign-up, right in your browser.

All music tools →

Photos: Isak Photography, 42 North, Rachel Loughman, Vitaly Gariev, Vitaly Gariev, Isaac Martin / Unsplash