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C blues major scale on guitar
C blues major contains C, D, E♭, E, G, and A. Its open-position roots on string 5, fret 3 and string 2, fret 1 make Box 1 the easiest start.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 5, 6
How do you play the C blues major scale on guitar?
C blues major in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 13 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 3 and the B string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 3 | E, G |
| 5 (A) | 0, 3 | A, C |
| 4 (D) | 0, 1, 2 | D, E♭, E |
| 3 (G) | 0, 2 | G, A |
| 2 (B) | 1, 3 | C, D |
| 1 (e) | 0, 3 | E, G |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
C blues major in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 12 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the A string at fret 3 and the G string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 5 | G, A |
| 5 (A) | 3, 5, 6 | C, D, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 5 | G |
| 3 (G) | 5 | C |
| 2 (B) | 3, 4, 5 | D, E♭, E |
| 1 (e) | 3, 5 | G, A |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
C blues major in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 14 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the low E string at fret 8, the G string at fret 5 and the high e string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 8 | A, C |
| 5 (A) | 5, 6, 7 | D, E♭, E |
| 4 (D) | 5, 7 | G, A |
| 3 (G) | 5, 7, 8 | C, D, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 5, 8 | E, G |
| 1 (e) | 5, 8 | A, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
C blues major in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 12 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the low E string at fret 8, the D string at fret 10 and the high e string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 10 | G |
| 4 (D) | 10 | C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 9 | E♭, E |
| 2 (B) | 8, 10 | G, A |
| 1 (e) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
C blues major in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 14 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the D string at fret 10 and the B string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 11, 12 | D, E♭, E |
| 5 (A) | 10, 12 | G, A |
| 4 (D) | 10, 12, 13 | C, D, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 12 | G |
| 2 (B) | 10, 13 | A, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 12 | D, E♭, E |
Why it sounds like that
C blues major adds E♭ to C major pentatonic, producing a minor 3rd against C and a minor 2nd against D. The major 3rd E remains, so E♭ and E clash a semitone apart. E♭ and A form a diminished 5th, the scale's only tritone.
When to use it
C blues major fits C major and C minor chords, covering both thirds. It also works over D 5th and G 5th for country and rock lines. Use it in C blues and boogie-woogie.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. The root sits on string 5, fret 3, and the pattern covers frets 0–3.
Common questions
What notes are in C blues major?
C blues major contains C, D, E♭, E, G, and A. The scale has both a minor and major 3rd. It is a six-note blues scale.
Which chords fit C blues major?
C blues major fits C major and C minor chords. It also works over D 5th and G 5th. The scale contains the chord tones of those harmonies.
How does C blues major differ from C major pentatonic?
C blues major adds E♭ to C major pentatonic. The added note creates a minor 3rd against C and a minor 2nd against D. This gives the scale its blues colour.