Hexatonic Scales For Guitar - Theory and Shapes

5 Hexatonic Scales For Guitar - Blues, Augmented, Whole Tone, Tritone and Prometheus Scales - Theory and Diagrams

By Stef Ramin On 2022-02-25 0

Hexatonic scales are made of six notes, even if you can get them from any pentatonic scale (by adding one note) or diatonic scale (by removing one note).

The most popular are the blues scales (major, minor), the augmented scale, the whole-tone scale, the tritone scale and the Prometheus scale.

This guitar lesson with formula charts and diagrams covers them in details and will you help to better figure them out.

The Blues Scales

This group of hexatonic scales includes the Blues Scales, that are actually the major and minor pentatonic scales (five notes) with an added chromatic passing tone.

The most commonly used are :

1 - The minor blues scale with a b5.

2 - The minor blues scale with a 3.

3 - The minor blues scale with a 7. These three scale are actually the minor pentatonic scale with an additional note which can be the flat fifth (b5), major third (3) or major seventh (7).

4 - The major blues scale, that is the major pentatonic scale with a passing tone (b3) between the second and the third.

Here are some basic diagrams and their related tabs to play these four blues scales on the guitar.

The Augmented Scale

The Augmented Scale is a hexatonic and symmetrical scale also sometimes referred to as "minor third-half step scale", because it is built with three patterns each made of a minor third (3 semitones) and a minor second (1 semitone).

As shown in the chart and shapes below, the formula to remember is tonic (1), augmented second (#2), major third (3), fifth (5), augmented fifth (#5) and major seventh (7).

C Augmented Scale	C	D#	E	G	G#	B
Formula	1	#2 (#9)	3	5	#5	7
Intervals	W+H	H	H+W	H	H+W	H

The Whole Tone Scale

As its name implies, the Whole Tone Scale is built with six notes separated from each other by a whole tone step (two semitones).

Making this hexatonic scale a symmetrical scale built this way : tonic (1), second (2), third (3), augmented fourth (#4), augmented fifth (#5) and minor seventh (b7).

It is used over dominant chord to bring tension and emphasize altered tones as the #11 (b5) and #5 (b13).

C Whole Tone Scale	C	D	E	F#	G#	Bb
Formula	1	2	3	#4	#5	b7
Intervals	W	W	W	W	W	W

The Tritone Scale

The Tritone Scale is a synthetic, symmetric, hexatonic scale made of two superimposed major triads a tritone away, giving the following formula : Tonic (1), minor second (b2) , major third (3), augmented fourth (#4), perfect fifth (5), minor seventh (b7).

You will get more info on how the tritone scale is built by following this link.

C Tritone Scale	C	Db	E	F#	G	Bb
Formula	1	b2	3	#4 (b5)	5	b7
Intervals	H	H+W	W	H	W+H	W

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5 Hexatonic Scales For Guitar - Blues, Augmented, Whole Tone, Tritone and Prometheus Scales - Theory and Diagrams

Hexatonic scales are made of six notes, even if you can get them from any pentatonic scale (by adding one note) or diatonic scale (by removing one note).

The most popular are the blues scales (major, minor), the augmented scale, the whole-tone scale, the tritone scale and the Prometheus scale.

This guitar lesson with formula charts and diagrams covers them in details and will you help to better figure them out.

SUMMARY

The Blues Scales

The Augmented Scale

The Whole Tone Scale

The Tritone Scale

The Prometheus Scale

C Prometheus Scale	C	D	E	F#	A	Bb
Formula	1	2	3	#4 (b5)	6	b7
Intervals	W	W	W	H+W	H	W

5 Hexatonic Scales For Guitar - Blues, Augmented, Whole Tone, Tritone and Prometheus Scales - Theory and Diagrams

Hexatonic scales are made of six notes, even if you can get them from any pentatonic scale (by adding one note) or diatonic scale (by removing one note).

The most popular are the blues scales (major, minor), the augmented scale, the whole-tone scale, the tritone scale and the Prometheus scale.

This guitar lesson with formula charts and diagrams covers them in details and will you help to better figure them out.

SUMMARY

The Blues Scales

The Augmented Scale

The Whole Tone Scale

The Tritone Scale

The Prometheus Scale

This lesson focuses on understanding and applying the four chord tones of a dominant 7 chord (1–3–5–♭7) as arpeggios embedded within the Mixolydian mode.

In this guitar lesson for beginners, we'll explore how major scale shapes relate to basic major seventh (Maj7) chords.

This guitar lesson for beginners explains what's a basic blues progression and how to add a chromatic descending chord sequence at the end.

The harmonic minor scale is a captivating and versatile scale used in various musical genres, known for its distinctive sound due to the raised seventh degree compared to the natural minor scale.

By understanding both chords derived from this scale and the modes within it, you can create compelling harmonic progressions and melodic lines.

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Jazz improvisation starts with the right scales. Instead of learning everything at once, focusing on a few essential scales will help you understand harmony, navigate the fretboard, and start soloing with confidence.

In this lesson, you’ll discover the key scales every beginner guitarist should know to build a strong jazz foundation.

Harmonizing the minor pentatonic scale involves creating chords that complement the scale and enhance its melodic possibilities. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to harmonize the minor pentatonic scale on guitar:

In this theory lesson with diagrams and charts you will learn what's the difference between relative and parallel modes and how to play them on guitar.

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