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F blues minor scale on guitar
F blues minor uses F, A♭, B♭, C♭, C, and E♭. Box 1 keeps the root on string 6, fret 1 for a low-position shape.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 5, ♭7
How do you play the F blues minor scale on guitar?
F blues minor in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 14 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the low E string at fret 1, the D string at fret 3 and the high e string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 4 | F, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 2, 3 | B♭, C♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3, 4 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 4 | C, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 4 | F, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 4–7
F blues minor in box 2 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 12 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ on the low E string at fret 4 up to C♭ on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the B string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 6, 7 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 5 (A) | 6 | E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 6 | A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 5 | C♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 4, 6, 7 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
F blues minor in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 14 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the A string at fret 8 and the B string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 7, 8 | B♭, C♭, C |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8 | E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 9 | F, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7, 8 | B♭, C♭, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
F blues minor in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 13 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 A string at fret 8 and the G string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 11 | C, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 11 | F, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 9, 10 | B♭, C♭, C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11 | A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 11 | C, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
F blues minor in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 12 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the low E string at fret 13 and the high e string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 11, 13, 14 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 4 (D) | 13 | E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 13 | A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 12, 13 | B♭, C♭, C |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
F blues minor adds C♭ as the ♭5 to F minor pentatonic. The blue note sits between B♭ and C. The scale degrees are 1, ♭3, 4, ♭5, 5, ♭7. Compare with F minor pentatonic to hear the added tension.
When to use it
F blues minor fits F minor and F 5th chords. Use it in an F blues or a funky minor groove. The ♭5 adds a dark color to the minor pentatonic. Try it with F minor or F 5th.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. The root is on string 6, fret 1, and the shape covers frets 1–4.
Common questions
What notes are in F blues minor?
F blues minor contains F, A♭, B♭, C♭, C, and E♭. C♭ is the blue note. This scale has six notes.
Which chords fit F blues minor?
F blues minor fits F minor and F 5th chords. It also works over B♭ 5th in a blues progression. Use it in F blues.
What is the blue note in F blues minor?
The blue note in F blues minor is C♭. C♭ is the ♭5 degree, between B♭ and C. It adds the bluesy tension.