Guitar scale reference
C Blues scale on guitar: five CAGED positions
The blues scale adds a flattened 5th to minor pentatonic. That chromatic tone works best as motion and tension rather than a resting point, giving familiar pentatonic shapes a sharper expressive edge.
What gives the scale its sound
Hear the flattened 5th in relation to both the 4th and 5th. Sliding or bending through that three-note area reveals its function more clearly than treating all six notes equally.
- Interval formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · 5 · ♭7
- Notes in C
- C · E♭ · F · G♭ · G · B♭
C Blues across the neck
The five views overlap. Root notes are highlighted; use interval labels first, then confirm the spelled notes above.
Position 1 · E shape · frets 8–11
Ascending and descending tab
e|-------------------------------------8-11--8-------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------8-11----------11--8-------------------------------| G|----------------------8-10-11----------------------11-10--8----------------------| D|----------------8-10----------------------------------------10--8----------------| A|-------8--9-10----------------------------------------------------10--9--8-------| E|-8-11----------------------------------------------------------------------11--8-|
Position 2 · D shape · frets 10–14
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------11-13-14-13-11-------------------------------------| B|------------------------------11-13----------------13-11-------------------------------| G|---------------------10-11-12----------------------------12-11-10----------------------| D|---------------10-13----------------------------------------------13-10----------------| A|---------10-13----------------------------------------------------------13-10----------| E|11-13-14----------------------------------------------------------------------14-13-11-|
Position 3 · C shape · frets 12–16
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------13-14-15-14-13-------------------------------------| B|------------------------------13-16----------------16-13-------------------------------| G|------------------------12-15----------------------------15-12-------------------------| D|---------------13-15-16----------------------------------------16-15-13----------------| A|---------13-15----------------------------------------------------------15-13----------| E|13-14-15----------------------------------------------------------------------15-14-13-|
Position 4 · A shape · frets 15–19
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------15-18-15-------------------------------------| B|---------------------------16-18-19----------19-18-16----------------------------| G|---------------------15-17----------------------------17-15----------------------| D|------------15-16-17----------------------------------------17-16-15-------------| A|------15-18----------------------------------------------------------18-15-------| E|15-18----------------------------------------------------------------------18-15-|
Position 5 · G shape · frets 17–21
Ascending and descending tab
e|------------------------------------18-20-18-------------------------------------| B|---------------------------18-19-20----------20-19-18----------------------------| G|---------------------17-20----------------------------20-17----------------------| D|---------------17-20----------------------------------------20-17----------------| A|------18-20-21----------------------------------------------------21-20-18-------| E|18-20----------------------------------------------------------------------20-18-|
Practice drill
In each position, play 4–♭5–5 on every available string pair and resolve in both directions. Then improvise a short phrase that crosses one position boundary through the blue note.
Use the guitar scale practice guide to turn the diagram into a recall, connection and phrasing routine.
If the interval formula or five-position layout is new, begin with the beginner guitar scale guide.
Open the scale randomiser