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