C Minor Blues Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
C Minor Blues Scale — Notes and Intervals
The C Minor Blues scale is the definitive scale of the blues tradition. On Guitar, it contains the notes C, Eb, F, Gb, G, Bb. By adding a chromatic tension note to the minor pentatonic, it creates the dirty and expressive grit associated with Chicago and Delta blues, essential for any player looking to add emotional bite to their solos. Commonly used in Blues, Rock, Jazz, R&B. Notable players include Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy. Use over minor chords and dominant 7th chords in blues. The b5 is a passing tone — linger on it for tension, resolve to 4 or 5.
Notes: C, Eb, F, Gb, G, Bb
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 4P, 5d, 5P, 7m
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5 b6
Formula: WH-W-H-H-WH-W
Number of notes: 6
Also known as: blues
How to Play C Minor Blues on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 8 on the 6th (low E) to find your C root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is open position.
The C Minor Blues scale contains 3 flats (Eb, Gb, Bb). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the C Minor Blues scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (C-F, Eb-Gb) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on C to let the characteristic intervals of the Minor Blues scale come through clearly.
Guitar Tips
Use hybrid picking (pick + fingers) when playing the C Minor Blues scale on guitar to access wider intervals and string skips that a pick alone cannot handle efficiently.
The C Minor Blues scale contains 6 notes (C, Eb, F, Gb, G, Bb). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for C Minor Blues
The C Minor Blues scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 6-note pentatonic scale, 2-notes-per-string patterns are the most ergonomic way to traverse the fretboard. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore C Minor Blues Further
- Harmonize the C Minor Blues scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- C Minor Blues on Ukulele
- C Minor Blues on Bass
- C Minor Blues on Piano
Explore C Minor Blues in Other Tunings
- C Minor Blues in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- C Minor Blues in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- C Minor Blues in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- C Minor Blues in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- C Minor Blues in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- C Minor Blues in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- C Minor Blues in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- C Minor Blues in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- C Minor Blues in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- C Minor Blues in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- C Minor Blues in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- C Minor Blues in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- C Minor Blues in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- C Minor Blues in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)