A composite blues scale diatonic chords
A composite blues scale seventh chords
scale
Fretboard diagram
A composite blues scale — chords and intervals
Harmonizing the A composite blues scale produces a comprehensive jazz chord family that merges major and minor blues structures into a single, flexible harmonic palette. The chords of A composite blues are A unknown, B unknown, C unknown, Eb minor seventh, E minor seventh, Eb diminished, E minor, F# diminished, G unknown. The nine chords allow improvisers to freely mix happy and gritty chord colors over dominant harmony. This chord family is the ultimate toolkit for jazz-blues comping, providing every shade between major and minor. Commonly used in Jazz, Blues, Fusion, Funk. Notable players include John Scofield, Robben Ford, Larry Carlton.
The A composite blues scale has the following degrees: 1 2 ♭3 3 4 ♭5 5 6 ♭7.
Intervals: W-H-H-H-H-H-W-H-W.
Diatonic chords: A unknown, B unknown, C unknown, Eb minor seventh, E minor seventh, Eb diminished, E minor, F# diminished, G unknown.
| Degrees | Chord |
|---|---|
| I | A unknown |
| ii | B unknown |
| iii | C unknown |
| IV | Eb minor seventh |
| V | E minor seventh |
| vi | Eb diminished |
| vii° | E minor |
| 8 | F# diminished |
| 9 | G unknown |
Degree-by-Degree Analysis
The I chord (A unknown) is the tonic — the gravitational center of the key. The ii chord (B unknown) is the minor subdominant, commonly used to approach the V chord. The iii chord (C unknown) functions as a substitute for the I or vi. The IV chord (Eb minor seventh) is the subdominant — it adds motion and moderate tension. The V chord (E minor seventh) is the dominant — it creates the strongest tension that wants to resolve to the I. The vi chord (Eb diminished) is the relative minor — it brings emotional color and depth. The vii° chord (E minor) is the diminished — the most tense, rarely used alone, usually leading to the I.
This page focuses on the harmonic content — the chords built from each degree of the A composite blues scale. For fretboard patterns and fingering guides, see the scale page.
Use the interactive harmonizer above to explore triads, seventh chords, and chord voicings for composing with the A composite blues scale on guitar.
Related Scales
How to Use This Scale
Use over dominant 7th chords in blues and jazz-blues. Contains both major and minor 3rds, allowing fluid switching between bright and dark.