C Blues Scale
Notes in the C Blues Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | C | 261.626 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | D♯ | 311.127 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | F | 349.228 Hz |
| ♯4 | Blue Note | F♯ | 369.994 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | G | 391.995 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | A♯ | 466.164 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | C | D♯ |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | D♯ | F |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | F | F♯ |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | F♯ | G |
| 5 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | G | A♯ |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | A♯ | C |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | C (complex) | other |
| ♭3 | D♯ | D♯ minor | minor |
| 4 | F | F (complex) | other |
| ♯4 | F♯ | F♯ (complex) | other |
| 5 | G | G (complex) | other |
| ♭7 | A♯ | A♯ (complex) | other |
Key Signature
No sharps or flats — C Blues Scale uses the same key signature as C major.
C Blues Scale in Practice
The C Blues Scale uses the key signature of no sharps or flats. C major is the simplest key signature with no sharps or flats. It is the starting point for music theory and the most widely studied key in Western music. On guitar, C 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. When played starting on C, the 6 notes are C, D♯, F, F♯, G, A♯. In this key the signature has no sharps or flats. C is the home key of the piano, requiring no black keys for the major scale, and is the default key for most music theory instruction. Beginners typically start in C because its lack of accidentals makes sight-reading, transposition exercises, and harmonic analysis straightforward.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| D♯ | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| F♯ | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| A♯ | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: C Blues Scale Positions
The C key offers open-string resonance (no sharps or flats) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like C are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.