Scales for blues

Three scales cover most blues vocabulary. Start with the minor pentatonic, then add the blue note, then borrow from Mixolydian for the dominant colour.

E Minor pentatonic

The foundation. Five notes that work everywhere.

E Blues

Minor pentatonic + the flat-5 blue note.

E Mixolydian

Major with a flat-7 — the dominant scale.

E Major pentatonic

The brighter sibling — country / rock-blues vocabulary.