fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON GUITAR

C Major Blues

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

MEIMIDIHumdrum
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Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds an octave 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 C Major Blues Verovio
Tuning
FretboardTuning: DGDGBD
35791215DGDGBDDD♯EGACDD♯EGACDD♯EGADD♯EGACDD♯EGACDD♯EGACDD♯EGACDDD♯EGACDD♯E
Related scales
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
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Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the C Major Blues scale?

The C Major Blues scale uses the notes C, D, D♯, E, G, A (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 C to get the C Major Blues scale.

What chords work over C 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 C Major Blues on Guitar?

On guitar, scales are typically learned as position patterns — three- or four-notes-per-string shapes that move up the neck. The CAGED system positions each scale in five interconnected patterns; the three-notes-per-string approach simplifies modal scales.

When would I use the Major Blues scale?

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