Let’s dive deeper into Intervals and figure out what the scales are. Scales are a selection of notes, out of the chromatic scale (12 notes). They are constructed using steps.

The Major Blues scale combines elements of the major scale with the blues scale, resulting in a sound that is both uplifting and soulful. This scale is often used in blues, rock, and jazz music to add a bright yet expressive quality to the music.

Musicians use the Major Blues scale to create solos and melodies that are both catchy and emotionally resonant. It's particularly effective in conveying a sense of joy and resilience, making it a popular choice for upbeat and energetic pieces. This scale is a favorite among guitarists and other instrumentalists looking to add a bluesy flavor to their playing.

Harmonically, the Major Blues scale allows for the creation of chords and progressions that have a distinctive bluesy sound. These progressions are often used in blues and rock music to create a sense of movement and tension. Whether you're jamming in a blues club or recording a rock anthem, the Major Blues scale is an essential tool for any musician.

The relative steps of the major blues scale are: wh-w-h-h-wh-w (w=whole step, h=half step, w=whole and half step).
Let’s explore how that exactly works:

What does diatonic mean?

The term "diatonic" refers to a scale that uses a mix of whole steps and half steps. When we say "diatonic," we mean notes that belong to the scale. For example, if you're playing in the key of C♯ major and using C♯ major notes, those notes are diatonic.

In the piano example above, you saw that only the notes from the scale are used. This means they only include notes "of the scale." Knowing about diatonic notes is important for understanding music theory and making melodies that sound good.

Using diatonic notes helps musicians keep their music in key, making it sound smooth and pleasant. Understanding diatonic notes will improve your musical skills and creativity.

Back to the banjo! You might wonder how this all translates back to your instrument and that might be a bit confusing at first, but please stay tuned. As you just seen, the chromatic intervals for major blues scale are {1, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 11}. To most people, this is not very useful information. The diatonic steps 1, 2, ♭3, 3, 5, 6 are more important to know. Try to learn see the difference between those and learn that by heart. From there it is way more interesting and practical to look at diatonic scale intervals.

Switch between chromatic/diatonic/notes below to see/learn the relations between them. For convenience, the root note (C♯) is highlighted.

As you might notice, the scales have 7 notes, except for the blues and pentatonic scales.