C blues major scale on ukulele

C blues major uses C, D, E♭, E, G, and A. The ♭3–3 pair sits on strings 4 and 3 in Box 1.

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it is built

C1D2E♭♭3E3G5A6

Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 5, 6

How do you play the C blues major scale on ukulele?

C blues major in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 9 notes across 4 strings, from C on the C string at fret 0 up to C on the A string at fret 3. The root falls on the C string at fret 0 and the A string at fret 3.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	0, 2	G, A
3 (C)	0, 2, 3	C, D, E♭
2 (E)	0, 3	E, G
1 (A)	0, 3	A, C

Box 2 · frets 2–5

C blues major in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 9 notes across 4 strings, from D on the C string at fret 2 up to D on the A string at fret 5. The root falls on the G string at fret 5 and the A string at fret 3.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	2, 5	A, C
3 (C)	2, 3, 4	D, E♭, E
2 (E)	3, 5	G, A
1 (A)	3, 5	C, D

Box 3 · frets 4–7

C blues major in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 8 notes across 4 strings, from E on the C string at fret 4 up to E on the A string at fret 7. The root falls on the G string at fret 5.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	5, 7	C, D
3 (C)	4, 7	E, G
2 (E)	5	A
1 (A)	5, 6, 7	D, E♭, E

Box 4 · frets 7–10

C blues major in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 9 notes across 4 strings, from G on the C string at fret 7 up to G on the A string at fret 10. The root falls on the E string at fret 8.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	7, 8, 9	D, E♭, E
3 (C)	7, 9	G, A
2 (E)	8, 10	C, D
1 (A)	7, 10	E, G

Box 5 · frets 9–12

C blues major in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 9 notes across 4 strings, from A on the C string at fret 9 up to A on the A string at fret 12. The root falls on the C string at fret 12.

Every note in this box, string by string

String	Frets	Notes
4 (G)	9, 12	E, G
3 (C)	9, 12	A, C
2 (E)	10, 11, 12	D, E♭, E
1 (A)	10, 12	G, A

Why it sounds like that

C blues major adds a ♭3 (E♭) to the C major pentatonic notes C, D, E, G, A. The E♭–A pair is a diminished 5th, giving the scale its tritone. This six-note scale keeps the major 3rd E and adds the minor 3rd E♭ for blues colour. Compare it with C major pentatonic.

When to use it

Use C blues major over C major and C minor chords. The ♭3 works against the major 3rd in C major, and the 6th A fits A minor. It suits blues, rock, and funk in C.

Which position to practise

Learn Box 1 first. It keeps the root C on string 4, fret 5 and 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 E♭ is a ♭3 and the E is a major 3rd. Together they create the blues sound.

Which chords fit C blues major?

C blues major fits C major and C minor chords. The scale also works over A minor and G 5th. Use it over dominant 7th chords for a bluesy feel.

How is C blues major different from C major pentatonic?

C blues major adds the ♭3 E♭ to C major pentatonic. The pentatonic has C, D, E, G, A. The added E♭ creates tension against the major 3rd.