This would give you access to more notes. GuitarCommand.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The tab shows how the pattern can be used to play either a 1 octave or a 2 octave C blues scale. We can add the flat 5, (b5), or blue note to the pentatonic scale, making it a six-note scale called the Blues Scale. Use the same pattern at the 3rd fret to play a G blues scale, as shown in the TAB below: The diagram below shows the first blues scale pattern together with four more patterns. D flat Blues (Concert E) 8. The Best Jazz Bassists: Who Are The Greatest Jazz Bassists Of All Time? A blues scale consists of 6 different notes, namely the root, flat 3rd, 4th, flat 5th, 5th and flat 7th of the major scale: 1 – b3 – 4 – b5 – 5 – b7. More Guitar Scale Pages At Guitar Command, Phrygian Scale Guitar: The Ultimate Guide – Learn How To Play The Phrygian Mode On Your Guitar, Tor & Vale: New Release By Jazz Guitarist Mark Wingfield, Types Of Guitars: A Guide To Different Guitar Types For Beginners, What Type Of Electric Guitar To Buy? These scales are for obvious reasons perfect when playing blues on the piano. You can practice improvising using blues scales with our Blues Guitar Backing Tracks. Be sure to visit https://www.activemelody.com/lesson/major-and-minor-blues-pentatonic-scales/ to download the tablature and MP3 Jam track for this lesson. Here is how I usually play All Blues’ theme. The Blues scale has only six notes - unlike all the other scales we have seen so far with seven. The Blues scale consists of 6 different notes. with your index finger ready to play at the 13th fret). There are two blues scales: the minor and major blues scales. On this page you’ll find out how to play the blues scale on bass guitar. For example, adding an Eb note to a standard A pentatonic minor scale will change it into an A blues scale. It’s one of the main scales used in lead guitar solos; in fact, it’s the only scale that some guitarists know! If you have any questions about anything covered on this page then feel free to ask them in the comments section below; we’ll be happy to help! Home > Scales > Blues Scales 12 Blues Guitar Scales - Beyond Pentatonics This lesson will explore the many different blues guitar scales used in all the blues sub-genres. Contemporary Jazz Guitarists: A List Of Exciting Young Jazz Guitarists. Guitar Buying Advice For Beginners. The 5 Blues scale box patterns. You’ll also be able to link the patterns together, giving you the option of playing lines that go beyond a single fretboard position (see the next section). F sharp Blues (Concert A) 9. The blues scale differs from the pentatonic minor scale only by the addition of a single note: the diminished 5th (also known as the ‘flattened 5th’, ‘flat five’ or ‘blues note’). The blues scale is esentially a minor pentatonic scale with an added flat fifth. Despite its name, the blues scale is not only used in blues music; it’s also regularly used in rock, metal, jazz, and many other musical styles. When playing with scales, you can extend your lines by linking together adjacent scale patterns. This scale is called “pentatonic”, because it contains only 5 (greek penta: 5) different notes. Watch this lesson and learn how to form scale. A combination of the Mixolydian mode and the blues scale, the Mixolydian/blues hybrid scale reigns supreme as the chief source for carving those major/minor blues-based licks that sound so good over dominant 7th chords. The easiest way to remember this scale is to think of it as the minor pentatonic and simply learn where the added notes are within the normal five minor pentatonic positions. Below you’ll find a TAB example of this. The Blues Scale is an extension of The Pentatonic Scale with the addition of one extra note, the Blues note A flat 5th in this key it's the G flat. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. G Blues (Concert B flat) 2. This makes them ‘hexatonic’ scales (six notes). That b5, or blue note, adds a lot of tension and color to the scale. It is used in all types of music Blues, Rock, Jazz, Metal, Funk, Electronica, everything really! If you need to know how to read guitar scale patterns, then you’ll find a complete lesson on this page: Guitar Scale Patterns. Thanks from New Zealand! Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. A tab example has been provided for each of the new patterns. Let’s learn the blues scales on piano and keyboard in every key. Both the major and minor blues scales are, essentially, pentatonic scales with an added ‘blue note’. "All Blues" is an example of modal blues in G mixolydian. In the fretboard patterns on this page, the tonic note of the scale (i.e. The blues scale comprises the following notes / intervals: Its scale spelling is: 1, b2, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7. We’ll take a closer look at each of the new patterns below. Get to know the sound of the blues scale by playing the pattern below. We’ll take a closer look at each of the new patterns below. 2. How To Get A Jazz Guitar Sound: The Guitar, Strings, Pick and Amplifier You Need For A Jazz Tone, What is a Chorus Pedal, What Does A Chorus Pedal Do, And How / When to Use Chorus in Your Playing, Lydian Scale Guitar: Learn How To Play The Lydian Modal Scale On Your Guitar, What is a Compressor Pedal, What Does A Compressor Pedal Do, And How / When to Use Compression in Your Playing. If you just want to play a single octave, play from a green note to the next green note, as shown in the tabs below. Be sure to subscribe to the YouTube page to stay up to date with the many lessons I will be adding. 3, then you could also improvise using a C blues scale in open position, or in 12th / 13th position (the pattern requires changing position). The pentatonic, or pentatonic minor scale, or simply blues scale, is the basis of the majority of blues, rock and metal music of the 20th century. The blues scale is widely-used in blues, rock, metal and jazz. The Minor and Major Blues Scales on Bass Guitar Content 1. After the pentatonic minor scale and major scale, the blues scale is probably the most widely-used scale in guitar improvisation. Using the Blues Scales. (If you want to learn guitar scales you need to know this.). The blues scale (or Pentablues) is the pentatonic scale plus one note. Thanks for this, I’ve always wanted to play blues. Remember that the scale patterns may contain notes that extend the scale, either upwards or downwards. Try and remember where the blues notes are in each of the 5 shapes. Why learning more than one scale pattern is beneficial. For instance, in the C blues scale the notes are C – Eb – F – Gb – G – Bb – C. The flat third, flat fifth and flat seventh notes of the scale are the blue notes of the scale. All Blues Scale Patterns. E Harmonic Minor (Open Position) The E harmonic minor scale is used often in classical, jazz and metal music, as it can spice up your solos. Use the pattern shown above to play a C blues scale by positioning your hand at the 8th fret. Visit: Blues Scales Guitarsix.com Six IGuitar -.com . Further down the page you’ll find four additional blues scale patterns plus TABs. Why Learn More Than One Pattern To Play A Bass Scale? Introduction In this lesson, you will learn about the blues scale. The diagram below shows the first blues scale pattern together with four more patterns. However, the blues scale is unusual because it also sounds good over blues chord progressions in major keys. King! These cookies do not store any personal information. F Blues (Concert A flat) 4. Experiment linking each of the five patterns on this page with its neighboring patterns to create your own extended lines. By the end of the page you’ll be able to play a blues scale with any tonic note* all over the fretboard. It is this ‘blues’ note that gives the scale its unique ‘bluesy’ tone. Join over 100,000 other guitar learners and subscribe to our guitar-tips-by-email service. For example, the A blues scale could be used to improvise over the following chord progression: ||: Am7 / / / | D9 / / / | Am7 / / / | D9 / E9 / :||. All the scales featured on this page work over the standard 1 4 5 blues progressions, but I've made it clear when a scale can be used in a minor key, major key, or both. Blues scale keys. Download original Guitar Pro tab. The basic blues scale pattern (pattern 1) can be extended up and down the guitar fretboard using the additional scale patterns. When I teach my students to use the blues scale I teach them to try to move off the #4 note quickly when playing. Click here to learn about Piano For All. C#, E, F#, G, G#, B, C#, F#, A, B, C, C#, E, F# Keep it up! Pattern = 1st – 2nd – Flattened 3rd – 3rd – 4th – 5th – 6th – Flattened 7th – 7th. They are the 5 notes of the minor pentatonic scale, plus one additional note. with your index finger positioned over the 8th fret.). GuitarCommand.com also participates in various other affiliate programs, and we may get a commission from purchases made via links from our site. Since the blues scale is the pentatonic plus the blue note, this is also the scale diagram for both the pentatonic major and minor scales. If you want to start playing lead guitar, improvising blues and rock, or writing classic sounding rock tunes, the pentatonic blues scale is definitely the place to start. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Bar 3: chromatic approach of the 3 and b7 of G7. B. You can use it to write basslines, licks and riffs, and also to improvise bass solos. As we’ll find in the notes in a blues scale section of this page, the blues scale is simply an embellishment of the standard pentatonic minor scale; an additional note is all that separates the blues scale from the pentatonic minor scale. The blues scale formula is 1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Major Root note = Star; Minor Root note = Triangle; Blue Note = Diamond; All the other notes = blue/purple squares; Use the fretboard note locator table (see below) to pick the key of the blues scale. Go from Piano Blues Scales to Piano Lessons (Piano Keyboard) home page. C Blues (Concert E flat) 3. One note added to our trusty pentatonic scale converts it into a really evocative sound. To learn how to play other piano scales, such as major, minor,chromatic and pentatonic scales, visit our main piano scales page. Guitar Scale Patterns: What They Are & How To Use Them, PLUS A Selection Of Useful Patterns, Blues Scale Bass TAB, Patterns & Notation. Want free guitar tips and video lessons delivered to your inbox? As its name implies, the Mixolydian/blues hybrid scale is created by superimposing the blues scale (1-b3-4-b5-5-b7) over the Mixolydian mode (1-2-3-4-5-6-b7). 2. Bar 8-10: mostly in the G major blues scale. Blues Scale in all 12 Keys 4. Copyright © 2021 GuitarCommand.com. In the diagram below, all of the blues notes in each of the 5 blues scale patterns are represented by blue circles: We hope that you have enjoyed learning about the blues scale. The “Major Blues Scale” is some less common than the “Minor Blues Scale”, and therefore we start with the … Therefore, the notes in a C blues scale are: The blues scale contains a minor 3rd, giving it a minor tonality. John. Playing the Blues Scale Starting on C 3. Many student who are new to improvising will land on the #4 and just sit on it without resolving it. The keys of the scales are highlighted. Four more blues scale fretboard patterns. 2. Blues Scales For Bass Guitar In All Keys. Gb, A, B, C, Db, E, Gb. This is because you’ll usually be using the scale while improvising, so knowing which extra notes are available in that fretboard position can be useful. Why learn more than one pattern for each scale? Bar 1-8: the G minor blues scale all the way. The basic blues scale pattern (pattern 1) can be extended up and down the guitar fretboard using the additional scale patterns. Bar 11-12: G minor blues scale. I play most of the melody with single notes, except for a few passages where chordsare added. Then, when improvising, you can slide to or from them, string bend into them, play them subtly or stress them, emphasizing their bluesy sound. Read on for a complete blues scale guitar lesson…. The blues scale is a six-note progression that sounds right at home in blues, rock, and country music. But despite the name this isn’t only about blues. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. It is also unusual in that some of its notes are considered blue notes, meaning that they are not played exactly at the pitch you would expect. That note is also referred to as the “worried note”, and earned its nickname from its jarring, almost dissonant nature within its ‘parent’ major or minor … Firstly, how do you form a blues scale? On this page you’ll find blues scale guitar TAB, patterns and notation that will allow you to play blues scales all over the guitar neck. For example, you could use a G blues scale to improvise over the following 12 bar blues in G: ||: G7 / / / | C7 / / / | G7 / / / | G7 / / /, | C7 / / / | C7 / / / | G7 / / / | G7 / / /, D7 / / / | C7 / / / | G7 / / / | D7 / / / :||. Adding a “blue note” to the regular Pentatonic Scale results in the Pentatonic Blues Scale. Good site for beginners. Review - C Major Scale. A flat Blues (Concert C flat) 7. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. I have also included the 5 box patterns you need to learn in order to memorize the Blues scales in all keys. The Best Rush Albums Ranked: What Are The Top 5 Rush Albums? A blues scale is really just a pentatonic scale with the addition of one note - the 'blues' note! © 2009-2020 Piano-Keyboard-Guide.com. Bar 7: chromatic approach of the b3 and b7 of Bm7. B flat Blues (Concert D flat) 5. Once you’ve seen how it works, try creating your own multi-position blues licks. The Blues Scale might be the most widely used scale ever. A Natural minor scale (Aeolian mode) Natural minor scale lesson. B Blues (Concert D) 10. If you also knew blues scale pattern no. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. E Blues (Concert G) 11. Also, you can form this scale with the formula, Minor 3rd – Whole Step – 1/2 Step – 1/2 Step – Minor 3rd – Whole Step. While the standard major and minor blues scales might be the easiest and most common way to bring the blues to your playing, they aren’t the only options. By helping UG you make the world better... and earn IQ Suggest correction This scale is essentially the pentatonic scale plus one chromatic note, often called the blue note. 1. Learn & play tab for lead guitar and percussion with free online tab player, speed control and loop. Visit the following pages on Guitar Command to find out more about guitar scales and how to use them in your own playing: To see how a master uses blues scales, check out B. You’ll see how to join the patterns up in order to create longer lines further down the page. Any other website you recommend. For example, if you only knew the basic blues scale pattern (pattern 1) and were improvising over a chord progression in C, then you’d be limited to playing in 8th position (i.e. It’s just a sheet with all the 12 Blues Scales on it. Thanks. The note added is the diminished 5th(o5) measured from the … (Patterns 1 & 5 span 2 octaves, the others a single octave.). Pentatonic & Blues scales are the most commonly used scales in most genres of music. In the composition's original key of G this chord is an E♭7. All rights reserved. Click here or on the image above to get 25% off your lessons courtesy of Guitar Command. In a moment we’ll look at one of the coolest scales of all, the Blues Scale. Before we do, let’s have a quick chat about ‘boxes’. This note became known as the “blue note“, and is the flat fifth in the case of the minor pentatonic, or the flat third in the case of the major pentatonic. Play this pattern starting at the 10th fret of the 4th (D) string for a 1-octave C blues scale, as shown in the TAB below: The TAB below shows how pattern 3 can be used to play a 1-octave C blues scale either in open position (in which case one of the black circles on the diagram would represent the open G string), or starting in 13th position (i.e. You can find out how to read guitar TAB here: Diminished 5th (also known as the ‘flattened 5th’, ‘flat five’ or ‘blues note’). Scale diagrams often include notes that are either above or below the tonic notes in this way. This means that it can be used to improvise over minor chord sequences. For a guitar lesson on using blues scales, with an example guitar solo and a backing track for you to play your own blues solo over, see this page: How To Use Blues Scales. A blues scale consists of 6 different notes, namely the root, flat 3rd, 4th, flat 5th, 5th and flat 7th of the major scale: 1 – b3 – 4 – b5 – 5 – b7. The Major Scale is the first kind of scale that we learn to play on the … 5. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. E flat Blues (Concert G flat) 6. 3. Good site – helpful and no-nonsense. This means that there will always be a blues scale ‘under your fingers’ wherever you are on the fretboard… whatever key you’re playing in! Have a look at my site at GuitarSix.com for more free guitar lessons and tools! The best way to get used to playing the blues is to have a go at improvising over the top of a 12 bar blues chord progression.Try using each of the 4 different scales … Click here to learn how to play piano and keyboards (with Piano For All). Here’s a diagram showing this scale in all 12 keys on the piano/keyboard. This extra step gives the blues scale that unmistakably bluesy sound. I got the chance now. The term blues scale refers to several different scales with differing numbers of pitches and related characteristics. The blues scale is used in Blues music. 4. My number one recommendation on this site for learning how to play the piano is Piano For All. (It's free.) Backing Track Listen & Play Along Here are some typical Joe Pass phrases over a blues in G in which he combines minor and major blues scales. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The TAB below shows this pattern being used to play a 1-octave C blues scale in open position: Play this pattern at the 3rd fret for a C blues scale, as shown in the TAB below: Playing this pattern in 5th position will result in a C blues scale, as shown in the TAB below: If you’re serious about your lead guitar playing, then you should try to learn blues scales in more than one position. Thanks for the site – it’s a good resource for my students. C-Blues Blues Scales for Tenor Saxophone 4 C#-Blues 7 D-Blues 10 Eb-Blues 13 E-Blues 16 C EbF F#G BbC Eb C BbG GbF EbC C#E F#G G#B C# E C#B G#G F# E C# D F G 4 G#A 5 C D F D C A 5 AbG 4 F D EbGbAbA BbDbEbGb EbDbBbA AbGbEb E G A A#B D E G E D B BbA G E learnsax.co.uk GNU General open source document page 1 of 2. "All Blues" is a jazz composition by Miles Davis first appearing on the influential 1959 album Kind of Blue. For instance, in the C blues scale the notes are C – Eb – F – Gb – G – Bb – C. The flat third, flat fifth and flat seventh notes of the scale are the blue notes of the scale. This is a great note because there’s tension to it but tension sounds best when you hear it resolve. In this position the green notes on the diagram correspond to C notes on the fretboard – as shown in the TAB below: After playing the TAB you may have noticed that the scale pattern includes an additional note that extends the scale beyond the second octave. Alto Saxophone Jazz Ensemble Blues Scales 1. Db,  E, Gb, G, Ab, Cb, Db The two scales we looked at above are, in their most basic form, versions of the pentatonic with an extra note added. My #1 Recommendation: Go here to learn about the BEST piano/keyboard course I’ve seen online. Below you’ll find out how to link multiple patterns together to create longer lines…. Amazon has a wide range of affordable keyboards and accessories. Find one below. If you just want to play the scale then start and stop on the green tonic notes (as shown in the TAB). Conclusion II. Backing Track Listen & Play Along How do you use the blues scale in your jazz solos?Let us know in the comments below… We start with the minor pentatonic scale in E (there’s also a major pentatonic scale, which sounds not so “sad”, but for a deep basic Blues we’ll take the minor). It is a twelve-bar blues in 8; the chord sequence is that of a basic blues and made up entirely of seventh chords, with a ♭VI in the turnaround instead of just the usual V chord. All Rights Reserved. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. the ‘C’s in a C blues scale, or the ‘G’s in a G blues scale) are shown in green. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website.