Also written Blues
E♭ blues minor runs E♭, G♭, A♭, B♭♭, B♭, D♭ with a 1½, W, H, H, 1½, W step pattern. Box 1 places the root at string 3, fret 6 and covers frets 4–7.
E♭ blues minor adds the ♭5 (B♭♭) to E♭ minor pentatonic, creating the six-note blues scale. The ♭5 sits between the 4 (A♭) and 5 (B♭) as a passing tone. This scale is a minor pentatonic with one chromatic addition, not a mode of the major scale.
E♭ blues minor fits E♭ minor and E♭ 5th chords in blues, rock, and funk. Use it over E♭ minor progressions when the ♭5 adds tension. The scale also works over F♯ major for a bluesy colour.
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 3, fret 6, and the range covers frets 4–7 for easy access to the ♭5.
E♭ blues minor in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 9 notes across 4 strings, from A♭ on the E string at fret 4 up to D♭ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the A string at fret 6.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 5, 6 | A♭, B♭♭, B♭ |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6, 7 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6 | D♭ |
E♭ blues minor in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 9 notes across 4 strings, from B♭ on the E string at fret 6 up to E♭ on the G string at fret 8. The root falls on the A string at fret 6 and the G string at fret 8.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 9 | B♭, D♭ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 9 | E♭, G♭ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 7, 8 | A♭, B♭♭, B♭ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
E♭ blues minor in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 10 notes across 4 strings, from E♭ on the E string at fret 11 up to B♭♭ on the G string at fret 14. The root falls on the E string at fret 11 and the D string at fret 13.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 14 | E♭, G♭ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 12, 13 | A♭, B♭♭, B♭ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13, 14 | G♭, A♭, B♭♭ |
Every chord here uses only notes from the scale. Tap one to open it.
E♭ blues minor contains E♭, G♭, A♭, B♭♭, B♭, and D♭. The B♭♭ is the ♭5, also called the blue note. The scale spans one octave from E♭ to E♭. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
E♭ blues minor fits E♭ minor and E♭ 5th chords. The ♭5 creates tension that resolves to the 4 or 5. Use it over dominant seventh chords for a blues sound.
E♭ blues minor adds the ♭5 (B♭♭) to E♭ minor pentatonic. The pentatonic has five notes; the blues scale has six. The extra note is a passing tone between A♭ and B♭.