F Major Blues Guitar Scale

F Major Blues in Open C — Notes and Intervals

The F Major Blues scale is an extension of the major pentatonic that adds a blue note for extra soul. On Guitar, the notes are F, G, Ab, A, C, D. It blends the happy character of major keys with the expressive, vocal-like slides of the blues, and is a staple in country, swing, and jazz-blues contexts. Commonly used in Blues, Country, Jazz, Swing, Southern Rock. Notable players include B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King. Use over major and dominant 7th chords in blues, country, and swing contexts. Mix with minor blues for complete blues vocabulary.

Notes: F, G, Ab, A, C, D

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 3M, 5P, 6M

Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 6

Formula: W-H-H-WH-W-WH

Number of notes: 6

Tuning: Open C (C-G-C-G-C-E)

About Open C Tuning

Open C tuning (C-G-C-G-C-E) produces a C major chord when strummed open, with an enormous bass depth from the low C string (two whole steps below standard E). The tuning spans a vast tonal range that gives compositions an almost orchestral scope, making it a favorite for both delicate fingerstyle and crushing heavy music.

John Butler's 'Ocean' — one of the most famous modern fingerstyle compositions — is performed in Open C, showcasing the tuning's incredible dynamic range from thundering bass to shimmering harmonics. Devin Townsend uses Open C extensively across his catalog for its massive, wall-of-sound potential. Jimmy Page used it on Led Zeppelin's 'Friends' from Led Zeppelin III. Soundgarden also explored Open C. The three C strings and two G strings create powerful octave resonances that make even simple chord shapes sound huge.

Notable artists: John Butler, Devin Townsend, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Soundgarden, William Ackerman

Best for: Cinematic fingerstyle compositions, progressive metal walls of sound, post-rock textures, and any music that needs enormous tonal range from deep bass to bright treble

Musical Character

Adds a 'blue note' (b3) to the major pentatonic, creating a brief clash between major and minor that gives the blues its characteristic sweet-and-sour emotional pull.

Chord Progressions Using This Scale

• I – ♭VII – IV (Classic Rock Loop)Pop / Rock — Energy & Drive
• ♭VII – IV – I (Gospel Walk-Up)Blues — Spiritual & Uplifting

Explore This Scale in Other Tunings

• F Major Blues in Standard Tuning
• F Major Blues in Drop D
• F Major Blues in DADGAD
• F Major Blues in Open G
• F Major Blues in Baritone (B Standard)
• F Major Blues in 7-string
• F Major Blues in 8-string
• F Major Blues in Drop C
• F Major Blues in Drop B
• F Major Blues in Open D
• F Major Blues in Half Step Down
• F Major Blues in Open E
• F Major Blues in Open A
• F Major Blues in Double Drop D

← All Guitar scales in Open C tuning