The ULTIMATE G Blues Scale Guitar Lesson

Ever wanted to play the G blues scale on guitar?

This scale is a great scale to know whether you are a beginner or an advanced player. In this post, I’ll share two different ways to play the G blues scale on guitar. How to practice the G blues scale, and even songs that use the G blues scale. Plus we’ll also cover some music theory and a few other common questions about the G blues scale.

All right, no long blathering build-up.

Let’s jump straight in, starting with…

What is the G blues scale on guitar?

The G blues scale on guitar is a simple series of 6 notes in a row. It’s important to point out, when musicians say G “blues scale” 9 times out of 10 they mean the G minor blues scale. Which is what we are going to be covering in this lesson. It’s a way of grouping together a specific set of notes that can be used for solos, understanding chords, and music theory.

What notes are in the G blues scale?

The notes in the G minor blues scale are: 

G - Bb - C - Db - D - F - G 

These notes help you create that classic blues sound. But it’s important to understand that these notes are a Western interpretation of the blues. The scale follows a pattern of whole steps (W), half steps (H), and blue notes that give it its distinct character. 

On the guitar, you can play the G blues scale in various positions and across different frets. 

Here is the first example I would start with:

This scale pattern starts on the open 3rd string – G – this is the root note. Then it ascends up the scale to the octave on the 1st string 3rd fret. The easiest way to start is to play each one of these notes with downstrums in the strum hand. Make sure you are getting each note clean and playing close to the frets. 

What fingers do you use for G blues scale?

For the fretting hand, in this first example, what you want to do is match the frets to the fingers. That means if you play the 3rd fret, use your 3rd finger in the fretting hand. If you play the 1st fret, use your 1st finger, and so on and so forth.  

This is called playing "in position". It refers to using a simple system within a specific fret range on the neck of the guitar, typically spanning four frets. 

When playing in position, you generally keep your hand and fingers within a fixed span on the neck, allowing you to play notes and patterns without excessive hand movement up and down the neck. This technique can help you navigate the fretboard more efficiently and develop a better understanding of scale patterns and note relationships.

What is the formula for the G blues scale?

As mentioned above the notes in the G blues scale are:

G - Bb - C - Db - D - F - G 

The formula for the G blues scale is:

A step and a half (3 frets)

Whole Step (W)

Half Step (H)

Half Step (H)

A step and a half (3 frets)

Whole Step (W)

In terms of frets, the pattern is:

3 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 2

This specific sequence of whole steps (W) and half steps (H) will create any blues scale. Whatever note you start on plug in the formula and you’ve got a blues scale. It’s like magic!

This pattern guarantees that the G blues scale maintains a specific set of intervals between each note. Here are the intervals of a minor blues scale:

• Root (1)
• Minor third (♭3)
• Perfect fourth (4)
• Diminished fifth (♭5) – also called the "blue note"
• Perfect fifth (5)
• Minor seventh (♭7)
• Octave (1)

This sequence of intervals gives the minor blues scale its characteristic sound, blending both the minor pentatonic scale and the "blue note" (♭5). For example, in the G minor blues scale, the notes would be:

• G (Root)
• Bb (♭3)
• C (4)
• Db (♭5)
• D (5)
• F (♭7)
• G (Octave)

On the guitar, you can play the G blues scale a ton of different ways. 

For example, here is a common way of playing this scale covering 2 octaves and using all 6 strings:

This now gives us a good cluster of notes in one area of the fretboard. 

If you want to learn how to play this anywhere on the neck, with patterns used by Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and B.B. King… then get your hands on my free blues scale guide right here:

How to practice the G blues scale on guitar

Practicing the G blues scale with a metronome is a great way to start. This can help improve your timing, accuracy, and consistency. 

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to practice the G blues scale with a metronome:

• Set your metronome to a comfortable tempo. Start with a slower tempo and gradually increase it as you become more comfortable.
• Familiarize yourself with the G blues scale fingering and position on the guitar. Make sure you know the correct sequence of notes and the fingering.
• Start by playing the G blues scale ascending (going up).
• Begin the metronome and make sure you're comfortable with the beat. Focus on keeping a steady rhythm.
• Play the G blues scale slowly and accurately, matching each note with the metronome beat. Start with quarter notes (one note per click).
• Pay attention to your picking or plucking technique. Make sure each note is clear and articulated.
• Once you're comfortable playing the G blues scale in this position as quarter notes you can either gradually increase the tempo. You can also experiment with different rhythms like eighth notes, sixteenth notes, etc.
• Remember to focus on accuracy, timing, and maintaining a consistent tempo throughout your practice session. It's important to start slowly and gradually increase the speed as you become more comfortable and proficient with the scale.

What songs use the G blues scale?

There are a lot of great songs that use the G blues scale. Here are 3 examples to help you learn more about it. 

1. I Shot The Sheriff (Eric Clapton)

In "I Shot The Sheriff," the main riff descends a series of notes from the G blues scale. "I Shot the Sheriff" was originally written by Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley. It was first released on the album Burnin’ in 1973 with his band Bob Marley and the Wailers. A year later, Eric Clapton recorded the song and released it on his album 461 Ocean Boulevard. Both Clapton’s version and the original Marley version are in the key of G minor.

2. I’ll Play The Blues For You (Albert King)

"I'll Play the Blues for You" is a classic blues song written by Jerry Beach. However, it was made popular by one of the most influential blues guitarists and singers of all time – Albert King. King’s recording of it was released in 1972 as the title track from his iconic album "I'll Play the Blues for You." It is chock-full of bluesy licks in the key of Gm. It’s a slow minor blues form that alternates between a 14-bar progression and a 16-bar progression at different times during the song.

3. Born Under A Bad Sign (Cream’s Version)

 Here’s a timeless staple of the blues. The first version was released by Albert King.

However, Cream's version of "Born Under a Bad Sign" is one of the notable covers of this classic blues. The song's iconic riff walks up and down notes of the G minor blues scale. 

Conclusion:

Learning the G blues scale on guitar is super important for both beginners and more advanced players. It's like a musical toolbox that helps you understand how music works and lets you create cool melodies and chords.

There are different ways to play the G blues scale on the guitar, and some are better than others. To make sure you don’t spin your wheels and waste years learning guitar, get your hands on my FREE blues scale guide right here:

Jon MacLennan