# blue note

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/blue-note
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The flatted 5th scale degree in the blues scale.

## Examples

- The saxophonist hits the blue note and the crowd cheers.
- In blues guitar, bending a string up to the blue note gives the solo its characteristic sad sound.
- The pianist lingered on the blue note, letting its dissonance hang in the smoky air before resolving into the final chord.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.