A Blues Scale
Notes in the A Blues Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | A | 440.000 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | C | 261.626 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♯4 | Blue Note | D# | 311.127 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | E | 329.628 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | G | 391.995 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | A | C |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | C | D |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D | D# |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D# | E |
| 5 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | E | G |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | G | A |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | A (complex) | other |
| ♭3 | C | C minor | minor |
| 4 | D | D (complex) | other |
| ♯4 | D# | D# (complex) | other |
| 5 | E | E (complex) | other |
| ♭7 | G | G (complex) | other |
Key Signature
3 ♯ — The A key signature uses F#, C#, G#.
A Blues Scale in Practice
The A Blues Scale uses the key signature of 3 sharps (F#, C#, G#). A major has three sharps (F#, C#, G#) and a bright, clear sound. It is extremely common in popular music and rock, particularly on guitar, and is easily sung by most voices. On guitar, A positions offer open-string resonance for fingering positions for this scale.
The blues scale adds the flat 5th (blue note) to the minor pentatonic scale, creating the characteristic dissonant tension central to blues, jazz, and rock music.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| D# | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: A Blues Scale Positions
The A key offers 3 sharps (F#, C#, G#) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like A are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.