F Blues Scale
Notes in the F Blues Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | F | 349.228 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor Mediant | Ab | 415.305 Hz |
| 4 | Subdominant | Bb | 466.164 Hz |
| ♯4 | Blue Note | B | 493.883 Hz |
| 5 | Dominant | C | 261.626 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | Eb | 311.127 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | F | Ab |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Ab | Bb |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | Bb | B |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | B | C |
| 5 | Aug 2nd (WH) | 3 | C | Eb |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Eb | F |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | F (complex) | other |
| ♭3 | Ab | Ab minor | minor |
| 4 | Bb | Bb (complex) | other |
| ♯4 | B | B (complex) | other |
| 5 | C | C (complex) | other |
| ♭7 | Eb | Eb (complex) | other |
Key Signature
1 ♭ — The F key signature uses Bb.
F Blues Scale in Practice
The F Blues Scale uses the key signature of 1 flat (Bb). F major has one flat (Bb) and a warm, pastoral quality. It is one of the most natural keys for wind instruments and is frequently used in orchestral and choral music. On guitar, F positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| Ab | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
| Bb | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| Eb | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: F Blues Scale
F is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce F concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in F sound a major sixth lower.