E♭ blues scale on guitar
The E♭ blues scale has 6 notes: E♭, G♭, A♭, A, B♭ and D♭. The minor pentatonic with one extra note, the flat 5th (the “blue note”). Use it as a passing note between the 4th and 5th for that instantly bluesy sound.
Notes in E♭ blues
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7
- Step pattern
- W+H – W – H – H – W+H – W
- Notes
- 6
Tap a note to hear it.
E♭ blues across the neck
Every E♭ blues note on the first 12 frets in standard tuning. Filled dots are the root, E♭. A good place to start: E♭ on the A string is at fret 6, so play the notes between frets 5 and 9 first, then move up the neck.
Intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval from E♭ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E♭ | Root |
| ♭3 | G♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | A♭ | Perfect 4th |
| ♭5 | A | Flat 5th |
| 5 | B♭ | Perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | D♭ | Minor 7th |
Chords to play E♭ blues over
The E♭ blues scale fits the main chords of the E♭ minor key:
It is also the classic choice over a twelve-bar blues in E♭: E♭7, A♭7, B♭7.
Related scales
- Take away the ♭5 and you are back to E♭ minor pentatonic.
- Over a twelve-bar blues in E♭, players often mix it with E♭ major pentatonic for a sweeter sound.
Questions
What notes are in the E♭ blues scale?
E♭, G♭, A♭, A, B♭, D♭. Its formula is 1 ♭3 4 ♭5 5 ♭7.
Where do I start the E♭ blues scale on guitar?
E♭ on the A string is at fret 6, so play the notes between frets 5 and 9 first. The fretboard map on this page shows every E♭ blues note on the first 12 frets.
What scales are related to E♭ blues?
Take away the ♭5 and you are back to E♭ minor pentatonic.
More scales
Blues in every key
Other scales from E♭