Explore scales · Bass
C♯ blues major scale on bass guitar
C♯ blues major contains C♯, D♯, E, E♯, G♯, and A♯. Box 1 spans frets 0–3 with roots on string 3, fret 4 and string 1, fret 6.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 5, 6
How do you play the C♯ blues major scale on bass?
C♯ blues major in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 8 notes across 4 strings, from E on the E string at fret 0 up to A♯ on the G string at fret 3. No root falls inside this box; it sits between two of them.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 1 | E, E♯ |
| 3 (A) | 1 | A♯ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 2, 3 | D♯, E, E♯ |
| 1 (G) | 1, 3 | G♯, A♯ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
C♯ blues major in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 10 notes across 4 strings, from A♯ on the E string at fret 6 up to E on the G string at fret 9. The root falls on the E string at fret 9 and the G string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 9 | A♯, C♯ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7, 8 | D♯, E, E♯ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 8 | G♯, A♯ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | C♯, D♯, E |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
C♯ blues major in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 9 notes across 4 strings, from D♯ on the E string at fret 11 up to G♯ on the G string at fret 13. The root falls on the D string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 12, 13 | D♯, E, E♯ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 13 | G♯, A♯ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 1 (G) | 13 | G♯ |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ blues major adds a minor 3rd to C♯ major pentatonic. The scale contains a tritone between E and A♯, but no leading tone. Its step pattern is W, H, H, 1½, W, 1½. Compare it with C♯ major pentatonic.
When to use it
C♯ blues major fits C♯ major and C♯ minor chords. Use it over 12-bar blues in C♯ and rock progressions. Try it over C♯ major and C♯ minor.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. Its root on string 3, fret 4 keeps the scale low and sets up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in C♯ blues major?
C♯ blues major contains C♯, D♯, E, E♯, G♯, and A♯. The scale includes both minor and major 3rds. It has a tritone between E and A♯. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does C♯ blues major fit?
C♯ blues major fits C♯ major and C♯ minor chords. It also works over D♯ 5th and G♯ 5th. Use it for blues and rock bass lines.
How is C♯ blues major different from C♯ major pentatonic?
C♯ blues major adds an E to C♯ major pentatonic. This creates a minor 3rd alongside the major 3rd. The added note gives a bluesy colour.