G Major Blues Scale

72 scales in every key on a map of the whole neck: positions, patterns, and every note played as it lights up.

The G major blues scale has 6 notes: G – A – B♭ – B – D – E. The major blues scale is the major pentatonic plus the ♭3. Sliding from the ♭3 up to the major 3rd is the signature sound of country and Chicago blues players; it brightens a blues without losing its edge.

Compared with the G major scale it has ♭3 (B♭ instead of B).

The explorer above is set to G major blues: the whole neck is mapped, and you can zoom into any of its 6 positions, change the labels to degrees or fingers, and hear it up, down and in patterns.

G major blues scale notes

Degree	Note	Interval from G	Frets above the root	Sargam
1	G	R	0	S
2	A	M2	2	R
♭3	B♭	m3	3	g
3	B	M3	4	G
5	D	P5	7	P
6	E	M6	9	D

Steps between the notes: W H H W+H W W+H (W = two frets, H = one fret). Start on any G and follow those steps up one string to play the scale.

G major blues scale positions on the guitar

G major blues splits into 6 hand positions, each within five frets. Position 1 starts on G on the low E string at fret 3; each next position starts on the next note of the scale. In standard tuning, high string first:

Position	E (1st)	B	G	D	A	E (6th)
Position 1 frets 3–7	3 5 6 7	3 5	3 4	5 7	5 7	3 5 6 7
Position 2 frets 5–9	5 6 7	5 8	7	5 7 8 9	5 7	5 6 7
Position 3 frets 6–10	6 7 10	8 10	7 9	7 8 9	7 10	6 7 10
Position 4 frets 7–11	7 10	8 10 11	7 9	7 8 9	7 10	7 10
Position 5 frets 10–14	10 12	10 11 12	12	12 14	10 12 13 14	10 12
Position 6 frets 12–15	12 15	12 15	12 14 15	12 14	12 13 14	12 15

What G major blues fits over

With 6 notes it is not used to build a whole key of chords; instead it sits over the I chord of a major blues, major and 6 chords. With G as the root: G, G6, G7.

Where you hear it

G major blues is used in country, blues, rock and roll and western swing. It sounds best over the I chord of a major blues, major and 6 chords.

Backing tracks to practise G major blues

G blues shuffle G slow blues G major pop G major ballad G jazz ii – V – I G Mixolydian rock

How to practise it

Play position 1 (frets 3–7) slowly, up and down, saying the note names.
Play it with the pattern set to In 3s, then In 4s, at a tempo where every note is clean.
Learn position 2 and how it joins position 1: the notes they share are where your hand moves.
Switch the labels to degrees and find every G (1) in each position.
Improvise over a backing track, ending your phrases on G.