Guitar Theory - The Blue Note - 6 half steps

In this exercise, we listen to the blue note, which is 6 half steps above the root note.Show more

We use one finger to play both notes,

Then we use two fingers to play both notes.

This maneuver will get you from any root note, to its blue note, on every pair of adjacent strings,

except G-B, where you would need to sharpen the B string by one half step, (which would be the same shape as a Perfect 5th or power chord elsewhere)

The blue note is an interesting note because its 6 half steps which is exactly half of the 12 steps in any octave.

The blue note is the only note in between the perfect 4th and perfect 5th.

The blue note is not claimed by the major or minor scale.

The blue note is the only note that distinguishes the blues scale from the minor pentatonic scale.

The blue note serves as an excellent pick-up note or passing-note when moving from P4-P5 or P5-P4

What that means is, if you are playing A blues scale in 5th hand position, and you have 3 fingers on the A string, then your middle finger will be on the blue note.

The blue note, and its perfect 4th, which is technically the Major 7th, usually sound pretty good together in a blues scale, double stops, chord, etc

There are songs written about the blue note

The St Louis Blues Hockey Club is named after the blue note

This interval has been officially banned by the Church, and called the Devils Chord

Its hard to overstate the significance of this note, or interval, or chord