Guitar Scale Logic
A Blues Guitar Scale in Drop C
Blues scale notes, fretboard positions and guitar tabs for Drop C.
Scale Tablature
Position 1
D|------------------------0--1--2--| A|---------------------3-----------| F|---------------2--4--------------| C|---0--2--3--4--------------------| G|2--------------------------------| C|---------------------------------|
0-4 frets • five-fret position fragment • 11 notes
Theory & Context
Why This Shape Works
The A Blues scale uses A, C, D, E♭, E, G and the formula 1 b3 4 b5 5 b7. In Drop C tuning, the open strings run D A F C G C from highest to lowest, so use this map rather than a Standard-tuning shape. Use the map to locate each A root, then select a five-fret position to see its tablature. The chord suggestions use notes from this scale.
Blues sounds gritty, tense and expressive. Try it for turnarounds, blues-rock phrasing and greasy lead work. Drop C is C-G-C-F-A-D from low to high. Compared with Standard, the top five strings are a whole tone lower and the sixth string is two whole tones lower.
Treat the b5 as a passing colour and resolve it quickly for the classic bite. In Drop C, learn the sixth-string notes separately before connecting them to the upper strings.
- A
- C
- D
- E♭
- E
- G
Suggested Chords
Works Well With This Scale
These chords contain notes from the selected scale.
- Amminor
- A5power
- Am7minor 7
- Asus4sus4
- Cmminor
- C5power
- Csus2sus2
- D5power
- Dsus4sus4
- Dsus2sus2