A Blues Scale
A–C–D–Eb–E–G
The A Blues scale has 6 notes: A–C–D–Eb–E–G. Its character: gritty, soulful, and expressive — the raw emotion of the blues.
The flat 5th (blue note) is the defining addition. It creates a half-step crunch between the 4th and 5th that sounds like the scale is crying. Bend into it, slide through it, but rarely rest on it. You'll hear it most in blues, rock, jazz and funk.
A Blues is A minor pentatonic plus one note — the ♭5 "blue note" (Eb). Treat the blue note as seasoning: bend into it, slide through it, but resolve off it. Start with the box position below over a slow blues backing track in A and the scale will teach you its own phrasing.
A Blues Scale on the Fretboard
Standard tuning, frets 0–12. Every dot is a note in the scale — blue dots are the root (A).
Notes and Intervals
| Interval | R | ♭3 | 4 | ♭5 | 5 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | A | C | D | Eb | E | G |
Songs That Use the Blues Sound
Stevie Ray Vaughan — “Pride and Joy”
In E blues scale. SRV hammers the blue note (Bb) throughout his solos, bending it up a half step to B natural for that signature tension-and-release. Listen to the turnaround lick at the end of each verse.
Albert King — “Born Under a Bad Sign”
In C# blues scale. Albert King's massive string bends on the blue note define his sound. The main riff itself is built from the blues scale with the blue note as a passing tone.
Eric Clapton — “Crossroads (Live at Winterland)”
In A blues scale. Clapton builds intensity by starting with minor pentatonic and gradually introducing the blue note (Eb) for maximum tension in the climactic phrases.
A Blues Scale FAQ
What notes are in the A Blues scale?
A Blues contains 6 notes: A–C–D–Eb–E–G. The interval formula is R–♭3–4–♭5–5–♭7.
What is the A Blues scale used for?
Gritty, soulful, and expressive — the raw emotion of the blues. It's a core vocabulary scale in blues, rock, jazz and funk — used for riffs, solos, and melodies over minor-key progressions in A.
What is the difference between the A blues scale and A minor pentatonic?
One note: the ♭5 blue note (Eb). The blues scale is the minor pentatonic with that chromatic passing tone added between the 4th and 5th. Land on the pentatonic notes; use the blue note for tension on the way through.
How do I practice the A Blues scale?
Pick one position, play it ascending and descending with a metronome until it's clean, then improvise over a backing track in A so your ear connects the shapes to the sound. OpenFret's free Studio has a fretboard viewer and metronome for exactly this, and Guitar Quest turns scale practice into a game with real-time pitch detection.
Related Scales
Practice A Blues with real feedback
Guitar Quest listens to your real guitar and turns scale practice into a game — run scales to battle monsters, with every note checked by pitch detection. Free in your browser, no signup needed.