How to Play the G Blues Scale on Guitar

By
Dan Cross
    Dan Cross is a professional guitarist and former private instructor who has experience teaching and playing various styles of music.
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    Dan Cross
    Updated March 06, 2017
    01
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    G Blues Scale - Root on 6th String

    G Blues Scale with root on 6th string
    G Blues Scale with root on 6th string.

    Performance Tips For This Blues Scale Position

    • first finger plays bottom note on all six strings
    • fourth (pinky) finger should play the notes three frets up on the 6th, 3rd and 2nd strings
    • fretting hand should stay in position for the entire blues scale
    02
    of 06

    G Blues Scale - Root on 5th String

    G Blues Scale with root on 5th string
    G Blues Scale with root on 5th string.

    Performance Tips For This Blues Scale Position

    • first and fourth fingers should be used for notes on 5th string
    • first and third fingers should be used for first two notes on 3rd string
    • third finger should slide three frets to play third note on 3rd string (in both ascending and descending scale pattern
    • first, second and third fingers should play notes on 2nd string
    • first and third fingers should play notes on 1st string
    03
    of 06

    G Blues Scale - Root on 4th String (one octave)

    G Blues Scale with root on 4th string
    G Blues Scale with root on 4th string.

    Performance Tips For This Blues Scale Position

    • first and fourth fingers should be used to fret notes on 4th string
    • second and fourth fingers should be used to fret notes on 2nd string
    04
    of 06

    G Blues Scale - Root on 3rd String (one octave)

    G Blues Scale with root on 3rd string
    G Blues Scale with root on 3rd string.

    Performance Tips For This Blues Scale Position

    • first and fourth fingers play notes on 3rd string
    • second, third and fourth fingers play notes on 2nd string
    • second and fourth fingers play notes on 1st string
    • first and third fingers play notes on 3rd string
    • first, second and third fingers play notes on 2nd string
    • first and third fingers play notes on 1st string
    05
    of 06

    G Blues Scale - Single String Pattern (one octave)

    G Blues Scale on single string
    G Blues Scale on single string.

    Performance Tips For This Blues Scale Position

    There is no "correct" way to finger this scale pattern. You could try sliding a single finger up and down the neck to play each note. Alternately, you could try hammer-ons or pull offs to provide a different sound.

    06
    of 06

    G Blues Scale - Open Strings

    G Blues Scale on single string
    G Blues Scale on single string.

    Performance Tips For This Blues Scale Position

    There is no "correct" way to finger this scale pattern, but experimental guitarists might want to play with combinations of the third and fourth frets of the 5th string and the open 4th string to come up with some interesting riffs.