Tuning-specific scale diagram

C Major Blues Scale in 8-String Drop E Tuning

C Major Blues Scale in 8-String Drop E Tuning shows the same c major blues scale pitch classes across 8 strings tuned E B E A D G B E. The seventh and eighth strings extend the pattern into the lower register for wider-range riffs and chord voicings.

Scale notes: C, D, Eb, E, G, A
Formula: 1 2 b3 3 5 6
Semitones: 0 2 3 4 7 9
Tuning: E B E A D G B E
Strings: 8
Open pitch range: E1 to E4
24-fret range: E1 to E6

Open strings and root positions

6 of the 8 open strings belong to C Major Blues Scale: string 8 E (3), string 6 E (3), string 5 A (6), string 4 D (2), string 3 G (5), and string 1 E (3). None of those open-string tones is the C root, so the root must be fretted on every string.

String 8E3

String 6E3

String 5A6

String 4D2

String 3G5

String 1E3

First root on each string

String 8Fret 8

String 7Fret 1

String 6Fret 8

String 5Fret 3

String 4Fret 10

String 3Fret 5

String 2Fret 1

String 1Fret 8

Low-string pattern

On the lowest E string, the first-octave scale pattern falls at frets 0, 3, 5, 8, 10, and 11, with the C root at fret 8. On the highest E string, the first C is at fret 8.

OpenE3

Fret 3G5

Fret 5A6

Fret 8C1

Fret 10D2

Fret 11Ebb3

Practice this tuning-specific layout

Play C Major Blues Scale on the low E string at frets 0, 3, 5, 8, 10, and 11, saying each note name and degree aloud.
Build a phrase that lets E on open string 8 ring, then connect it to the nearest C root and two other scale tones.
Connect the C root positions on strings 8 through 1 at frets 8, 1, 8, 3, 10, 5, 1, and 8, adding the nearest scale tone between each pair of roots.