Interactive piano keyboard showing F Blues scale degrees. Click highlighted keys to play.
The F blues scale (F, A♭, B♭, B, C, E♭) has a warm, weighty character that works well for jazz and blues piano, horn sections, and vocal blues. The blue note B adds tension between A♭ and C that creates the signature blues yearning. F blues is common in jazz standards and Chicago blues.
Adding the flat 5th (the “blue note”) to minor pentatonic creates the characteristic tension-and-release of blues improvisation. This tritone is the single interval that gives the blues scale its soulful, crying quality.
The diatonic chords in F Blues are: Fm, Abm, Bbm, B, Cm, Ebaug. These are the chords built naturally from each degree of the scale.
What is the Blues?
The F blues scale (F, A♭, B♭, B, C, E♭) has a warm, weighty character that works well for jazz and blues piano, horn sections, and vocal blues. The blue note B adds tension between A♭ and C that creates the signature blues yearning. F blues is common in jazz standards and Chicago blues.
What notes are in the F Blues?
The F Blues contains the notes: F, Ab, Bb, B, C, Eb. This is a 6-note scale starting from F.
How many chords does the F Blues have?
The F Blues produces 6 diatonic chords, one built on each degree of the scale: Fm, Abm, Bbm, B, Cm, Ebaug.
What is the formula for the Blues?
The Blues follows the interval formula: W+H-W-H-H-W+H-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
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Position in circle of fifths
F is at the 11 o'clock position. Related keys: C (dominant), Bb (subdominant), D (relative minor), G (supertonic), Eb (subtonic).