fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON ALTO SAXOPHONE

B Major Blues

Major pentatonic + the chromatic ♭3 passing tone. Country, rockabilly, and bluegrass colour.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
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Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds a major 6th below the written notation — the instrument's concert (sounding) pitch.

Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title B Major Blues Verovio
Keyboard
BC𝄪BC𝄪BC𝄪BC♯D♯F♯G♯C♯D♯F♯G♯C♯D♯F♯G♯
Related scales
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
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Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the B Major Blues scale?

The B Major Blues scale uses the notes B, C♯, C𝄪, D♯, F♯, G♯ (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What's the Major Blues scale formula?

The Major Blues scale follows the interval pattern W H H W+H W W+H, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on B to get the B Major Blues scale.

What chords work over B Major Blues?

Major Blues works over the I7 / IV7 / V7 of country / bluegrass / rockabilly progressions. The ♭3 is a passing tone.

How do I finger B Major Blues on Alto Saxophone?

On saxophone, scales train fingering + the altissimo register. Practice the entire range — low Bb through high F (or higher with altissimo fingerings) — at each scale.

When would I use the Major Blues scale?

Major pentatonic + the chromatic ♭3 passing tone. Country, rockabilly, and bluegrass colour.