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B blues major scale on guitar
B blues major contains B, C♯, D, D♯, F♯, and G♯. The root on string 6, fret 7 puts Box 3 in the middle of the fretboard.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 5, 6
How do you play the B blues major scale on guitar?
B blues major in box 1 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 12 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to G♯ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 2 and the G string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
| 5 (A) | 2, 4, 5 | B, C♯, D |
| 4 (D) | 4 | F♯ |
| 3 (G) | 4 | B |
| 2 (B) | 2, 3, 4 | C♯, D, D♯ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4 | F♯, G♯ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
B blues major in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 14 notes across 6 strings, from G♯ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the low E string at fret 7, the G string at fret 4 and the high e string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 7 | G♯, B |
| 5 (A) | 4, 5, 6 | C♯, D, D♯ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6 | F♯, G♯ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6, 7 | B, C♯, D |
| 2 (B) | 4, 7 | D♯, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 7 | G♯, B |
Box 3 · frets 7–10
B blues major in box 3 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 12 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to D on the high e string at fret 10. The root falls on the low E string at fret 7, the D string at fret 9 and the high e string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 9, 10 | B, C♯, D |
| 5 (A) | 9 | F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 9 | B |
| 3 (G) | 7, 8 | D, D♯ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9 | F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9, 10 | B, C♯, D |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
B blues major in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 14 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to D♯ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the D string at fret 9 and the B string at fret 12.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 10, 11 | C♯, D, D♯ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11 | F♯, G♯ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11, 12 | B, C♯, D |
| 3 (G) | 11 | F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 12 | G♯, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 10, 11 | C♯, D, D♯ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
B blues major in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 13 notes across 6 strings, from D♯ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the A string at fret 14 and the B string at fret 12.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 14 | D♯, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 14 | G♯, B |
| 4 (D) | 11, 12, 13 | C♯, D, D♯ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 13 | F♯, G♯ |
| 2 (B) | 12, 14 | B, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 14 | D♯, F♯ |
Why it sounds like that
B blues major adds D to B major pentatonic, creating a minor 3rd against B and a minor 2nd against C♯. The major 3rd D♯ remains, so D and D♯ sit a semitone apart. D and G♯ form a diminished 5th, the scale's only tritone.
When to use it
B blues major fits B major and B minor chords, letting you toggle the 3rd. It also works over C♯ 5th and F♯ 5th for bright rock lines. Use it in B blues and shuffle feels.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 3 first. The root sits on string 6, fret 7, and the pattern covers frets 7–10.
Common questions
What notes are in B blues major?
B blues major contains B, C♯, D, D♯, F♯, and G♯. The scale has both a minor and major 3rd. It is a six-note blues scale.
Which chords fit B blues major?
B blues major fits B major and B minor chords. It also works over C♯ 5th and F♯ 5th. The scale contains the chord tones of those harmonies.
How does B blues major differ from B major pentatonic?
B blues major adds D to B major pentatonic. The added note creates a minor 3rd against B and a minor 2nd against C♯. This gives the scale its blues colour.