5 Blues Scales Every Guitarist Should Know

Ever wanted to be able to play screamin’ blues solos anywhere on the neck?

Well, one of the keys to becoming a blues guitar master is learning how to solo and tap into specific sounds on the guitar neck. 

Now I often use the words sounds and scales interchangeably. This is because I think of each scale as a sound. For example, the major scale has a specific sound to it. While the blues scale has a very different sound.  

If I used a painting analogy these scales are like colors I can paint with. Sometimes I want green. Sometimes I want bright blue. If I have these sounds worked out on my instrument. I can dial them up and express whatever I want. 

And so that’s what I’m going to share with you today in this lesson, where I walk through the 5 blues scales every guitarist should know. Including one at the very end that I’m sure you’ve never heard of. 

I’m going to show you the scales, talk about the theory behind them, and even show you some licks to start applying them right away. 

So let’s dive straight in with…

Blues Scale #1: The Major Blues Scale

The G major blues scale is a six-note scale. It’s very similar to the G major pentatonic scale but it’s got an added bit of "bluesy" flavor. This flavor comes from adding a "flattened third" (Bb). This "blue note" creates tension and dissonance, characteristic of the bluesy sound

The Notes:

• G (root)
• A (major second)
• Bb (flattened third)
• B (major third)
• D (fifth) 
• E (sixth)
• G (octave)

There are numerous fingerings or "shapes" for playing the G major blues scale across the fretboard. 

But I would start with learning this one:

Here is an example phrase in that position that demonstrates how a blues musician might use this sound in a solo:

Here’s a great example of a solo using this sound:

Blues Scale #2: The Minor Blues Scale

The G minor blues scale is the most common blues scale. This is the one most people are referring to when they speak of playing the “blues scale”. It’s your ticket to unlocking the raw emotion and soulful expression that lies at the heart of the blues. 

This one is built very similarly to the G minor pentatonic scale. But again we’ve got a twist of bluesy flavor. It’s a 6-note scale. The twist comes from the flattened fifth (Db). This note creates a dissonance that's a hallmark of the blues sound.

The Notes: 

• G (root)
• Bb (flattened third)
• C (fourth)
• Db (flattened fifth)
• F (flattened seventh)
• G (octave)

At its core, this is a minor scale and it creates a darker, more melancholic sound compared to the G major blues scale.

Here’s a great way to play this in 3rd position:

When you’re starting, you have to begin by just playing the scale up and down. But remember, the best musicians don’t just play the scale up and down. They take select notes from the scale and create brilliant melodies with them. 

Here’s an example of that with a blues lick using notes from the G minor blues scale:

For a deeper dive on soloing with the minor blues scale check out this Thrill is Gone guitar lesson.

Blues Scale #3: The Mixolydian Mode

The G Mixolydian mode or what’s often called the G dominant scale, is a hidden gem that’s inside the familiar major scale. It has a unique sound, combining the brightness of major with a bluesy twist making it a versatile tool for guitarists across genres. It’s essentially the same notes as a C major scale.

Imagine taking the C major scale and starting it on the fifth degree (G). That's the G mixolydian! It shares the same notes as C major but with a different starting point.

The Notes:

• G (root)
• A (second)
• B (third)
• C (fourth)
• D (fifth)
• E (sixth)
• F (flattened seventh)
• G (octave)

Notice there are no sharps and no flats just like a C major scale. But it’s starting on the fifth degree. This gives it a "dominant" character and it’s a staple sound in the blues. 

While there are many shapes you could use to play G Mixolydian. Here is the one I would start with:

Next, let’s take some notes from this scale and turn it into a phrase/lick. Here is an example of this:

Blues Scale #4: The Chromatic Scale

Here’s one many players don’t think about and that’s the G chromatic scale. This one is all about color. It’s a great way to spice up a solo and offers countless possibilities for soloing. Imagine taking every single half step between the G on the 6th string and the next G two octaves higher. That's the G chromatic scale! It's essentially the diatonic scale (G major) expanded to include all 12 pitches within its two octaves.

The Notes: 

G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G (octave)

The chromatic scale consists of all half steps. You can use this scale to create a smooth, flowing movement between notes. This eliminates the traditional "steps" of a diatonic scale, resulting in a more "chromatic" sound.

Here’s how you can play it on guitar:

Here’s a common blues lick that uses a bunch of chromatic notes to demonstrate this scale:

Blues Scale #5: Jon MacLennan Blues Scale

As promised here is the scale you haven’t yet heard of, but this could be the missing link for your solos. The trick to this scale is you take the minor blues scale, but you add the major sixth to it. This results in a 7-note scale. This scale came about through deep research into the blues greats' solos and how they blended different scales to achieve the sounds we all know and love. 

Just adding this one note lets your solos tap into the sounds of players like B.B. King, and Freddie King. The notes in this scale are: 

• G (root)
• Bb (flattened third)
• C (fourth)
• Db (flattened fifth)
• E (sixth)
• F (flattened seventh)
• G (octave)

Here is a sample phrase demonstrating this scale in action:

Conclusion

There you have it! Those are the 5 blues scales every guitarist should know. Each one unlocks a different shade of soulful expression.

Remember, playing the scales is one thing. But the final goal is to hear them as sounds and colors you can use to create your own musical vision. So take these tools and practice, experiment, and above all, feel the blues. 

Keep it up! And for more blues guitar check out this post on the 101 Best Blues Songs To Learn On Guitar next!