Minor Blues Scales Piano Fingerings

Right Hand
Scale Step

1 Cm Fm Bm Em Am Dm Gm Bm Em Am Dm Gm 1 1 1 1 4 2 2 2 3 3 3 2

3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4

4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1

4 4 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 2

5 1 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 1 1 1 3

7 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 2 2 2 1

1 1 1 1* 1 4 2 2 2 3 3 3 2

The minor blues scale is made up of scale steps 1, 3, 4, 4, 5, 7, and 1 of the major scale. So, the C Minor Blues Scale is C, E, F, F, G, B, and C. I could also be thought of in terms of the intervals make it up as in: root, minor third, major second, minor second, minor second, minor third, major second, and back to the root. * Theres no good way to play this scale. It breaks the no thumb on a black key when playing scales rule. For situations like this (B, E, A, etc.), you might nd yourself ending on 4, rather than 1 when youre turning around. Ive simply listed the ngering youd use when playing multiple octaves. (But youre smart, and already gured that out.)

calebnei.com

Major Blues Scales Piano Fingerings

Right Hand
Scale Step

1 C F B E A D G B E A D G 1 1 4 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1

2 2 2 1 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2

2 3 3 2 4 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3

3 1 1 3 1 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 1

5 2 2 1 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 2

6 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 4 2 2 2 3

1 1 1 4 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1

Notice that the major blues scales are related to the minor ones. C Major shares notes and ngerings with A Minor (its the relative major), and so on. So the C Major Blues Scale is C, D, D, E, G, A, and back to C. For most scales we learn the majors before minors, but for blues scales the minors are probably more popular.

calebnei.com