Scales

Minor Blues Scale On The Guitar

The minor blues scale is arguably the most used scale by guitarists for soloing and improvising. The ‘blue’ note is what gives the scale its characteristic sound. Although it is an obvious go-to scale for the blues, it is used extensively in rock, jazz, folk, pop, and just about every other style too. The amazing thing about the minor blues scale, is that it works in a range of musical contexts. It can be used effectively over both minor chords and major chords.

So what makes up the minor blues scale? The scale is almost identical to the minor pentatonic scale, but has one extra note – the b5. This note is also known as the ‘blue note’, because it is what gives the scale its blues sound. If you are familiar with minor pentatonic scales, you would know that the C minor pentatonic scale (for example) contains the following:

C – Eb – F – G – Bb

To make this a C minor blues scale, we simply need to add the b5 (blue note)

C – Eb – F – Gb – G – Bb

1 – b3 – 4 – b5 – 5 – b7

The scale produces 3 notes in a row that are 1 semitone apart. Because of this, using bends is a very effective tool with the blues scale. If we take the example of the C minor blues scale above, the 3rd note of the scale (F), is followed by a semitone interval to Gb and then another semitone interval to G. This means that when we bend F, we are increasing the pitch upwards, towards the next note – Gb. If we continue bending the note past Gb, we are increasing the pitch towards the next note after Gb – G. This is one of the reasons why blues guitarists use bends extensively. The bends can be used to move from one note of the scale to the next and the ‘in between’ sounds of the bends add to the bluesy sound. This does not mean that bends can only be used to connect notes that are a semitone apart, or that they can only be used for blues scales, but the minor blues scale definitely lends itself to the use of bends.

Of course, as with any scale, we want to learn the 5 movable positions along the guitar fretboard and then apply them to different keys. Let’s look at the minor blues scale in the key of C, in all 5 positions.

Minor Blues Scale Frets position 1

Minor Blues Scale Notes position 1

Minor Blues Scale Frets position 2

Minor Blues Scale Notes position 2

Minor Blues Scale Fret position 3

Minor Blues Scale Notes position 3

Minor Blues Scale Frets position 4

Minor Blues Scale Notes position 4

Minor Blues Scale Frets position 5

Minor Blues Scale Notes position 5

If you are new to scales, I would recommend reading the following related posts:

Pentatonic Scales – What are they?

C Minor Pentatonic Scales On The Guitar

G Sharp Minor Pentatonic Positions on the Guitar

‘G Sharp Minor Pentatonic’ contains the following notes:

G# – B – C# – D# – F#

The relative major of G# minor is B major.

For an in depth lesson on the theory behind the minor pentatonic scale, read the post on pentatonic scales.

Positions Along The Fretboard:

The best way to practice any guitar scale is to memorize the individual positions along the fretboard. Let’s look at the open position and the 5 moveable positions for G# minor pentatonic:

Open Position

G Sharp Minor Pentatonic Open Position Frets

G Sharp Minor Pentatonic Open Position Notes

1st Position (lowest fret is 1)

G Sharp Minor Pentatonic 1st Position Frets

G Sharp Minor Pentatonic 1st Position Notes

4th Position (lowest fret is 4)

G Sharp Minor Pentatonic 4th Position Frets

G Sharp Minor Pentatonic 4th Position Notes

6th Position (lowest fret is 6)

G Sharp Minor Pentatonic 6th Position Frets

G Sharp Minor Pentatonic 6th Position Notes

8th Position (lowest fret is 8)

G Sharp Minor Pentatonic 8th Position Frets

G Sharp Minor Pentatonic 8th Position Notes

11th Position (lowest fret is 11)

G Sharp Minor Pentatonic 11th Position Frets

G Sharp Minor Pentatonic 11th Position Notes

Quick Links:

Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales on the Guitar

G Minor Pentatonic Positions on the Guitar

‘G Minor Pentatonic’ contains the following notes:

G – Bb – C – D – F

The relative major of G minor is Bb major.

For an in depth lesson on the theory behind the minor pentatonic scale, read the post on pentatonic scales.

Positions Along The Fretboard:

The best way to practice any guitar scale is to memorize the individual positions along the fretboard. Let’s look at the open position and the 5 moveable positions for G minor pentatonic:

Open Position

G Minor Pentatonic Open Position Frets

G Minor Pentatonic Open Position Notes

 

3rd Position (lowest fret is 3)

G Minor Pentatonic 3rd Position Frets

G Minor Pentatonic 3rd Position Notes

5th Position (lowest fret is 5)

G Minor Pentatonic 5th Position Frets

G Minor Pentatonic 5th Position Notes

7th Position (lowest fret is 7)
G Minor Pentatonic 7th Position Frets
G Minor Pentatonic 7th Position Notes 
10th Position (lowest fret is 10)

G Minor Pentatonic 10th Position Frets

G Minor Pentatonic 10th Position Notes

12th Position (lowest fret is 12)

G Minor Pentatonic 12th Position Frets

G Minor Pentatonic 12th Position Notes

Quick Links:

Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales on the Guitar

F Sharp Minor Pentatonic Positions on the Guitar

‘F Sharp Minor Pentatonic’ contains the following notes:

F# – A – B – C# – E

The relative major of F# minor is A major.

For an in depth lesson on the theory behind the minor pentatonic scale, read the post on pentatonic scales.

Positions Along The Fretboard:

The best way to practice any guitar scale is to memorize the individual positions along the fretboard. Let’s look at the open position and the 5 moveable positions for F# minor pentatonic:

Open Position

F Sharp Minor Pentatonic Open Position Frets

F Sharp Minor Pentatonic Open Position Notes

2nd Position (lowest fret is 2)

F Sharp Minor Pentatonic 2nd Position Frets

F Sharp Minor Pentatonic 2nd Position Notes

4th Position (lowest fret is 4)

F Sharp Minor Pentatonic 4th Position Frets

F Sharp Minor Pentatonic 4th Position Notes

6th Position (lowest fret is 6)

F Sharp Minor Pentatonic 6th Position Frets

F Sharp Minor Pentatonic 6th Position Notes

9th Position (lowest fret is 9)

F Sharp Minor Pentatonic 9th Position Frets

F Sharp Minor Pentatonic 9th Position Notes

11th Position (lowest fret is 11)

F Sharp Minor Pentatonic 11th Position Frets

F Sharp Minor Pentatonic 11th Position Notes

Quick Links:

Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales on the Guitar

G Flat Minor Pentatonic Positions on the Guitar

‘G Flat Minor Pentatonic’ contains the following notes:

Gb – Bbb – Cb – Db – Fb

For an in depth lesson on the theory behind the minor pentatonic scale, read the post on pentatonic scales.

Positions Along The Fretboard:

The best way to practice any guitar scale is to memorize the individual positions along the fretboard. Let’s look at the open position and the 5 moveable positions for Gb minor pentatonic:

Open Position

G Flat Minor Pentatonic Open Position Frets

G Flat Minor Pentatonic Open Position Notes

2nd Position (lowest fret is 2)

G Flat Minor Pentatonic 2nd Position Frets

G Flat Minor Pentatonic 2nd Position Notes

4th Position (lowest fret is 4)

G Flat Minor Pentatonic 4th Position Frets

G Flat Minor Pentatonic 4th Position Notes

6th Position (lowest fret is 6)

G Flat Minor Pentatonic 6th Position Frets

G Flat Minor Pentatonic 6th Position Notes

9th Position (lowest fret is 9)

G Flat Minor Pentatonic 9th Position Frets

G Flat Minor Pentatonic 9th Position Notes

11th Position (lowest fret is 11)

G Flat Minor Pentatonic 11th Position Frets

G Flat Minor Pentatonic 11th Position Notes

Quick Links:

Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales on the Guitar

E Flat Minor Pentatonic Positions on the Guitar

‘E Flat Minor Pentatonic’ contains the following notes:

Eb – Gb – Ab – Bb – Db

The relative major of Eb minor is Gb major.

For an in depth lesson on the theory behind the minor pentatonic scale, read the post on pentatonic scales.

Positions Along The Fretboard:

The best way to practice any guitar scale is to memorize the individual positions along the fretboard. There is no open position for Eb minor pentatonic. Instead, let’s look at the 5 moveable positions for Gb minor pentatonic:

1st Position (lowest fret is 1)

E Flat Minor Pentatonic 1st Position Frets

E Flat Minor Pentatonic 1st Position Notes

3rd Position (lowest fret is 3)

E Flat Minor Pentatonic 3rd Position Frets

E Flat Minor Pentatonic 3rd Position Notes

6th Position (lowest fret is 6)

E Flat Minor Pentatonic 6th Position Frets

E Flat Minor Pentatonic 6th Position Notes

8th Position (lowest fret is 8)

E Flat Minor Pentatonic 8th Position Frets

E Flat Minor Pentatonic 8th Position Notes

11th Position (lowest fret is 11)

E Flat Minor Pentatonic 11th Position Frets

E Flat Minor Pentatonic 11th Position Notes

Quick Links:

Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales on the Guitar

F Minor Pentatonic Positions on the Guitar

‘F Minor Pentatonic’ contains the following notes:

F – Ab – Bb – C – Eb

The relative major of F minor is Ab major.

For an in depth lesson on the theory behind the minor pentatonic scale, read the post on pentatonic scales.

Positions Along The Fretboard:

The best way to practice any guitar scale is to memorize the individual positions along the fretboard. There is no open position for F minor pentatonic. Instead, let’s look at the 5 moveable positions for F minor pentatonic:

1st Position (lowest fret is 1)

F Minor Pentatonic 1st Position Frets

F Minor Pentatonic 1st Position Notes

3rd Position (lowest fret is 3)

F Minor Pentatonic 3rd Position Frets

F Minor Pentatonic 3rd Position Notes

5th Position (lowest fret is 5)

F Minor Pentatonic 5th Position Frets

F Minor Pentatonic 5th Position Notes

8th Position (lowest fret is 8)

F Minor Pentatonic 8th Position Frets

F Minor Pentatonic 8th Position Notes

10th Position (lowest fret is 10)

F Minor Pentatonic 10th Position Frets

F Minor Pentatonic 10th Position Notes

Quick Links:

Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales on the Guitar

E Minor Pentatonic Positions on the Guitar

‘E Minor Pentatonic’ contains the following notes:

E – G – A – B – D

The relative major of E minor is G major.

For an in depth lesson on the theory behind the minor pentatonic scale, read the post on pentatonic scales.

Positions Along The Fretboard:

The best way to practice any guitar scale is to memorize the individual positions along the fretboard. Let’s look at the open position and the 5 moveable positions for E minor pentatonic:

Open Position

E Minor Pentatonic Open Position Frets

E Minor Pentatonic Open Position Notes

2nd Position (lowest fret is 2)

E Minor Pentatonic 2nd Position Frets

E Minor Pentatonic 2nd Position Notes

4th Position (lowest fret is 4)

E Minor Pentatonic 4th Position Frets

E Minor Pentatonic 4th Position Notes

7th Position (lowest fret is 7)

E Minor Pentatonic 7th Position Frets

E Minor Pentatonic 7th Position Notes

9th Position (lowest fret is 9)

E Minor Pentatonic 9th Position Frets

E Minor Pentatonic 9th Position Notes

12th Position (lowest fret is 12)

E Minor Pentatonic 12th Position Frets

E Minor Pentatonic 12th Position Notes

Quick Links:

Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales on the Guitar

D Flat Minor Pentatonic Positions on the Guitar

‘D Flat Minor Pentatonic’ contains the following notes:

Db – Fb – Gb – Ab – Cb

For an in depth lesson on the theory behind the minor pentatonic scale, read the post on pentatonic scales.

Positions Along The Fretboard:

The best way to practice any guitar scale is to memorize the individual positions along the fretboard. Let’s look at the open position and the 5 moveable positions for Db minor pentatonic:

Open Position

D Flat Minor Pentatonic Open Position Frets

D Flat Minor Pentatonic Open Position Notes

1st Position (lowest fret is 1)
D Flat Minor Pentatonic 1st Position Frets
D Flat Minor Pentatonic 1st Position Notes 
4th Position (lowest fret is 4)

D Flat Minor Pentatonic 4th Position Frets

D Flat Minor Pentatonic 4th Position Notes

6th Position (lowest fret is 6)

D Flat Minor Pentatonic 6th Position Frets

9th Position (lowest fret is 9)

D Flat Minor Pentatonic 9th Position Frets

D Flat Minor Pentatonic 9th Position Notes

11th Position (lowest fret is 11)

D Flat Minor Pentatonic 11th Position Frets

D Flat Minor Pentatonic 11th Position Notes

Quick Links:

Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales on the Guitar

D Sharp Minor Pentatonic Positions on the Guitar

‘D Sharp Minor Pentatonic’ contains the following notes:

D# – F# – G# – A# – C#

The relative major of D# minor is F# major.

For an in depth lesson on the theory behind the minor pentatonic scale, read the post on pentatonic scales.

Positions Along The Fretboard:

The best way to practice any guitar scale is to memorize the individual positions along the fretboard. There is no open position for D# minor pentatonic. Instead, let’s look at the 5 moveable positions for D# minor pentatonic:

1st Position (lowest fret is 1)

D Sharp Minor Pentatonic 1st Position Frets

D Sharp Minor Pentatonic 1st Position Notes

3rd Position (lowest fret is 3)

D Sharp Minor Pentatonic 3rd Position Frets

D Sharp Minor Pentatonic 3rd Position Notes

6th Position (lowest fret is 6)

D Sharp Minor Pentatonic 6th Position Frets

D Sharp Minor Pentatonic 6th Position Notes

8th Position (lowest fret is 8)

D Sharp Minor Pentatonic 8th Position Frets

D Sharp Minor Pentatonic 8th Position Notes

11th Position (lowest fret is 11)

D Sharp Minor Pentatonic 11th Position Frets

D Sharp Minor Pentatonic 11th Position Notes

Quick Links:

Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales on the Guitar

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