If you’ve ever bent a note and felt something ancient in your fingers, you’re in the right place, blues scales for guitar
The blues isn’t just a genre—it’s a language. And the blues scales for guitar are your Rosetta Stone.
In this guide, you’ll go beyond the diagrams. You’ll learn real-world shapes, phrasing techniques, and how to make a six-note scale sound like a lifetime of emotion.
You’ll also get free access to my Discord and the chance to back FretDeck™: Pentatonic Guitar Scales, the only visual learning tool designed to help you stop guessing and start playing like a pro.
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🎯 What Are Blues Scales for Guitar?
At the core, a blues scale is just a minor pentatonic scale with an added flat fifth (♭5), known as the “blue note.”
A Minor Pentatonic:
A – C – D – E – G
A Blues Scale:
A – C – D – D# – E – G
That added D#? That’s the soul. That’s the sting. That’s the bend that brings people to tears.
🎸TAB: A Blues Scale – Box 1 (5th Fret)
e|-----------------------------5–8–|
B|-----------------------5–8--------|
G|-----------------5–7--------------|
D|-----------5–7--------------------|
A|-----5–6–7------------------------|
E|–5–8-----------------------------|
👉 That 6th fret on the A string is your blues note. Slide into it. Ghost it. Bend around it. That’s blues phrasing.
1. 🎤 The Minor Blues Scale: Your First Language
Used by:
- Jimi Hendrix – “Red House”
- Albert King – “Crosscut Saw”
- Stevie Ray Vaughan – “Texas Flood”
Why it works:
That ♭5 note (D#) lets you create tension and release on demand. And it works over nearly any 12-bar blues progression.
🧠 Pro Tip: Don’t always start on the root. Start on the 5th or bend into the minor 3rd for more emotional punch.
2. ✨ The Major Blues Scale: The Sweet Side
A Major Pentatonic:
A – B – C# – E – F#
Add the ♭3 (C):
A – B – C – C# – E – F#
This is your happy-sad hybrid scale. Heard in:
- “Sweet Home Chicago”
- “Let’s Dance” (SRV)
- Every B.B. King solo ever
🎸TAB: A Major Blues Scale (2nd Fret)
e|-----------------------------4–5–|
B|-----------------------3–5--------|
G|-----------------2–4--------------|
D|-----------2–4--------------------|
A|-----2–3–4------------------------|
E|–2–5-----------------------------|
🎯 Try This: Jam over an A7 vamp. Switch between major and minor blues scales. Watch how your solos go from aggressive to playful in seconds.
3. 🎭 Mix ‘Em: The Hybrid Blues Scale
Want to sound like Clapton, Trucks, or Bonamassa?
Here’s the magic formula:
A – B – C – C# – D – D# – E – F# – G
⚡️ No rules. Just color. Just story.
🎸 Student Story – Darren’s Breakthrough:
Darren couldn’t make his solos sing. So I told him:
“Use A minor pentatonic… but sneak in the C# and F#.”
The grin on his face? That was the blues talking back.
4. 🚀 Sliding Blues: Connect the Boxes
If you’re stuck in Box 1, you’re stuck sounding like an exercise.
Here’s how to break free:
e|-------------------------------|
B|–8b10r8–5-------------5-------|
G|-------------7–5h7/9----7–5–7-|
D|-------------------------------|
This slide takes you from Box 1 → Box 3 in one fluid phrase.
🎧 Loop it. Repeat it. Start thinking horizontally, not just vertically.
5. 🔁 The Turnaround: Don’t Just Solo, Hook
Here’s a quick A blues turnaround you can steal:
e|----------------------5-|
B|--------------------5---|
G|------------------5-----|
D|----------------4-------|
A|----5–4–3–2-------------|
E|–5----------------------|
📢 Hook it at the end of your 12-bar progression and walk off like a legend.
6. 🎯 The Blues Note: The Note That Screams
Don’t just play the D#. Make it speak.
- Slide into it
- Bend toward it
- Ghost note it
- Vibrato it like your amp is weeping
🧠 Challenge:
Play D – D# – E ten different ways. You’ll find ten new voices.
7. 🧠 SoloCraft Secrets: Structure Your Solo Like a Story
Here’s a 3-part solo formula straight from SoloCraft:
| Section | Purpose | Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning | Introduce your voice | 2-note phrases, vibrato, repeat |
| Middle | Build tension | Slides, blue notes, scale mix-ups |
| Ending | Resolve or surprise | Descend, rest on the root or 9th |
8. 🧪 Practice Routine: 20-Minute Blues Workout
| Time | Focus | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5min | A Blues Box 1 | Add vibrato + phrasing |
| 5min | Slide to Box 2 & 3 | Horizontal movement |
| 5min | A Major Blues over A7 | Hear happy–sad contrast |
| 5min | Improv w/ looper (3-part solo) | Structure like a story |
🎸 Want a full routine? Join the Guitar Freaks Discord and get the Fret Logic eBook FREE.
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🔥 Ready to Make the Blues Scale Sing?
You’ve got the shapes. Now get the tools to make them music.
✅ Back FretDeck™ on Kickstarter
✅ Get the Practice Prompt Deck
✅ Join the Guitar Freaks Hangout Discord
✅ Download your FREE eBook: Fret Logic
Don’t just know the blues scale.
Live it. Bend it. Bleed through it.
🔗 Internal Link
Looking to level up your pentatonic foundation?
➡️ Why Minor Pentatonic Scales Are the Missing Key to Your Next Breakthrough
🔗 Outbound Link
Need a visual theory refresher on blues scales?
➡️ Ultimate Guitar’s Blues Scale Chart and Application
FretDeck™ is the tool.
The blues is the truth.
Your hands are the translator.
Let’s go make something that sings.
Let the blues scale be your voice.
Bend it. Break it. Make it yours. 🎸
