Piano scales

Scales source and guide for musicians

Blues Scales for Piano

Adding what sometimes is referred to as a “blue note” to the regular Pentatonic Scale, results in the Blues Scale. These scales are for obvious reasons perfect when playing blues on the piano. The “Minor Blues Scale” is slightly more common than “Major Blues Scale”, and is sometimes referred to simple as the “Blues Scale”.

The blues originates from a mix of different sources in music, so there is no satisfying explanation in theoretical terms about this scale. But the most important thing is of course how it sounds when you are using it. Try these scales below and you will hear the blues!

Minor Blues Scales

Here are pictures and notes of the Minor Pentatonic Blues scales. See also Major Blues Scales.

Minor Pentatonic Blues Scales overview
C: C, Eb, F, F#, G, Bb, C
C#/Db: C#, E, F#, G, G#, B, C# / Db, E, Gb, G, Ab, B, Db
D: D, F, G, G#, A, C, D
D#/Eb: D#, F#, G#, A, A#, C#, D# / Eb, Gb, Ab, A, Bb, Db, Eb
E: E, G, A, A#, B, D, E
F: F, Ab, Bb, B, C, Eb, F
F#/Gb: F#, A, B, C, C#, E, F# / Gb, A, B, C, Db, E, Gb
G: G, Bb, C, Db, D, F, G
G#/Ab: G#, B, C#, D, D#, F#, G# / Ab, B, Db, D, Eb, Gb, Ab
A: A, C, D, D#, E, G, A
A#/Bb: A#, C#, D#, E, F, G#, A# / Bb, Db, Eb, E, F, Ab, Bb
B: B, D, E, F, F#, A, B

Intervals and steps
Intervals: 1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7
Semitones: 3 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 2
Formula: Whole and a half, Whole, Half, Half, Whole and a half, Whole

Theory and tips for improvisation

The Pentatonic Blues Scale is built on three dominant chords. In the case of C Pentatonic, the three chords are C7 – F7 – G7. We can see the relationship when comparing the notes in the scale:

• C, Eb, F, F#, G, Bb

with the notes in the three chords:

• (C7) C, E, G, Bb – (F7) F A C Eb – (G7) G B D F

There is a close correlation as you can see.

So how can you improvise on the piano with blues scales? By learning these scales you will gain great tools for improvising in the musical style of blues (these scales can also be used in jazz improvisation). A tip is to use the left hand for a chord and play notes from the scale with the right. You can, for example, combine the C Blues Scale with C7, F7 and G7 chords. Or, in the same way, the G Blues Scale with the chords G7, C7 and D7. See jam tracks below.

To visualize progressions, it is helpful to organize them in a structure like this:

This 12-bar progression uses the typical I-IV-V (with a quick change in the second bar and a turnaround in the twelfth). The chords, the Roman numerals as well as suggestions for scales to use over the chords are indicated. As said earlier, you can highlight the chords in a higher degree by changing scales with the chord changes (i.e. using F Blues Scale over F7 and using G Blues Scale over G7).

You can improvise blues in minor keys as well. A nice combination is the chords Am7, Dm7 and E7 together with the Am Pentatonic Blues Scale. Further reading: 12-bar blues.

Major Blues Scales

Here are pictures and notes of the Major Blues Scale (a.k.a. Major Pentatonic Blues) in all keys. See also Mixo-blues Scales.

Major Pentatonic Blues Scales overview
C: C, D, Eb, E, G, A, C
C#/Db: C#, D#, E, F, G#, A#, C# / Db, Eb, E, F, Ab, Bb, Db
D: D, E, F, F#, A, B, D
D#/Eb: D#, F, F#, G, A#, C, D# / Eb, F, Gb, G, Bb, C, Eb
E: E, F#, G, G#, B, C#, E
F: F, G, Ab, A, C, D, F
F#/Gb: F#, G#, A, A#, C#, D#, F# / Gb, Ab, A, Bb, Db, Eb, Gb
G: G, A, Bb, B, D, E, G
G#/Ab: G#, A#, B, C, D#, F, G# / Ab, Bb, B, C, Eb, F, Ab
A: A, B, C, C#, E, F#, A
A#/Bb: A#, C, C#, D, F, G, A# / Bb, C, Db, D, F, G, Bb
B: B, C#, D, D#, F#, G#, B

Intervals and steps
Intervals: 1, 2, b3, 3, 5, 6
Semitones: 2 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 2 - 3
Formula: Whole, Half, Half, Whole and a half, Whole, Whole and a half

Dorian with blue notes

Another choice for blues is the Dorian Add 5 Scale, which can be seen as a hybrid combining the Pentatonic Blues scales based on the Dorian mode.

Backing tracks

You can play piano to these tracks by using the scales presented here. Sometimes can both major and minor pentatonic sound right, and in these cases you can also combine them (as suggested for one of the following backing tracks).

Track list (selection)

C Fast Blues

Show scale

E Roadhouse Blues

Show scale

or/and

The full collection with 17 tracks is available in the member area.