You already know the minor pentatonic scale. Five notes, works over any blues tune, sounds great.
But there’s one note missing—the note that adds that raw, gritty blues flavor. It’s called the blue note, and when you add it to your pentatonic scale, you get the blues scale.
That’s what we’re going to talk about here. The blue note itself, where it lives on the fretboard, and how to use it without sounding like you’re just throwing in random chromatic notes.
What Is the Blues Scale?
The blues scale is really just the minor pentatonic with one extra note added: the flat fifth (also called the augmented fourth, or the “blue note”).
In A minor pentatonic, you’ve got: A – C – D – E – G
Add the blue note (E♭/D♯), and now you’ve got the blues scale: A – C – D – D♯/E♭ – E – G
That D♯ sits right between the fourth (D) and the fifth (E). It’s a chromatic passing note—it wants to move. You don’t land on it and hang out. You use it to add tension, color, and that signature blues sound.
In the diagram above, the blue note (D♯) is at the 6th fret on the 5th string (A string). That’s the note that transforms your pentatonic lick into something that sounds authentically blues.
The blues scale guitar pattern shown here is the most common position—starting at the 5th fret in A. You can move this same shape anywhere on the neck to play the blues scale in any key.
How to Use the Blue Note
Here’s the thing about the blue note: it’s a spice, not a meal. You don’t want to overuse it or camp out on it.
Think of it as a chromatic passing note. You’re sliding through it from the fourth to the fifth, or bending into it from below. You’re creating tension that resolves when you land on a “safe” note like the root or the fifth.
In my 45 years of playing blues, I’ve seen a lot of players add the blue note and immediately sound better. But I’ve also seen guys overdo it—hitting it on every lick until it loses its power. Use it with intention.
When you’re going up the scale, you’re playing an augmented fourth (raising the fourth to get to the fifth). When you’re coming back down, you’re playing a flat fifth. Same note, slightly different feel depending on direction.
Some classic uses:
- At the end of a phrase as a chromatic turnaround
- As a quick hammer-on between the fourth and fifth
- Bent into from a half-step below
- In double-stops and chord voicings
The Blues Scale in Different Keys
One of the best things about the blues scale guitar pattern is that it’s completely moveable. The shape stays exactly the same—you just slide it up or down the neck to change keys.
In A, you start Position 1 at the 5th fret. Want to play the E blues scale? Start at the 12th fret (or the open position). G blues scale? That’s the 3rd fret. B♭ blues scale? 6th fret.
The fret number where you start the scale tells you the key. Whatever note is on the 6th string at your starting fret—that’s your root, and that’s the key you’re in.
Here are the most common blues keys guitarists run into:
- A blues scale – 5th fret (the most common key for blues guitar)
- E blues scale – 12th fret (open position works too)
- G blues scale – 3rd fret
- D blues scale – 10th fret
- B blues scale – 7th fret
Most blues jams and open mics will be in A, E, or G. If you can nail the blues scale in those three keys, you’ll be able to sit in with just about any blues band and hold your own.
Don’t try to learn every key at once. Start with A at the 5th fret—that’s your home base. Once it’s solid, try E at the 12th fret. Then G at the 3rd. Build outward from what you know.
Why the Blues Scale Works Over a Blues Progression
You might wonder why one six-note scale works over an entire chord progression. After all, the chords are changing underneath you—why does the same scale keep sounding good?
The short answer: the blues scale is built from the notes that are common to all three chords in a standard I-IV-V blues. The root, the minor third, and the fifth all show up as chord tones or common tones across the progression. That’s why you can just sit in one position and solo over all the changes without sounding wrong.
The blue note itself creates a tension that resolves naturally no matter what chord is underneath. It rubs against the harmony just enough to sound interesting, but not so much that it clashes. That’s the magic of it—controlled dissonance that your ear expects and enjoys.
Now, there’s a more advanced way to handle chord changes. Instead of staying in one position, you can target the specific chord tones of each chord as it comes around. I cover that in my lesson on finding I-IV-V chord tones in your pentatonic scale. That’s what separates someone who sounds good from someone who sounds like they really know what they’re doing.
Start with the Foundation
If you’re new to this and don’t have the minor pentatonic scale locked in yet, start there. You need to know where the “safe” notes live before you start adding chromatic color.
I’ve got a complete breakdown of the three-position pentatonic climb that’ll give you the foundation you need: Master the minor pentatonic scale
Once you’ve got the scale pattern down, the next step is understanding which note is which—where the root lives, where the fourths and fifths are. That’s critical for knowing where the blue note fits: Learn the tonic and never get lost
And if you really want to use the blues scale in context, you need to know how it relates to the I-IV-V chord progression that makes up 90% of blues music: Apply the scale to I-IV-V progressions
Beyond the Basics: Chromatic Passing Notes
The blue note isn’t the only chromatic passing note you can use in blues. There are a couple others that’ll add even more color and vocabulary to your solos.
I cover the essential chromatic passing notes in this lesson: Essential chromatic passing notes for blues
These notes give you more options for connecting phrases, adding tension, and making your solos sound less predictable. Once you’ve got the blue note down, those are the next tools to add to your toolbox.
Your Next Step
But for now, grab your guitar. Find that blue note. And hear what happens when you add it to your next solo. That’s the sound of the blues.
For more lessons on rhythm, soloing, chords, and songs, head over to the main Blues Guitar page.