A Blues Guitar Scale
Studying The Blues Scale
On this page we will look at another blues guitar scale, specifically looking at the blues scale, how it's formed and how it can be used to play some cool licks.
The blues scale is very similar to the minor pentatonic scale. The only difference between the the two is, the blues scale has a flattened fifth note (or it could be called a sharpened forth, however you want to look at it) added to it.
By comparing the two scales you can see the flattened fifth (or sharpened forth) that is added to the blues scale.
Minor Pentatonic Scale
Blues Scale
The flattened fifth that's added could be called the blue note. It adds a degree of tension to the scale.
An easy way to remember the fingerings for the blues scale is to think of a minor pentatonic scale with an extra note added to it, the flattened fifth.
Here is the A blues scale, fifth position (starting at the fifth fret).
The best way to understand this tension that the flattened fifth adds to the scale is to learn a few licks incorporating it, and then play them over some chords to hear how it sounds.
Just like the minor pentatonic scale, it can be played over major or minor chords, particularly the 1st, 4th, and 5th chords found in the scale of the key you are playing in.
Learn any of the following blues scale licks and try playing them over the major and minor blues progressions found on the Free Guitar Backing Tracks page to get a feel for the sound of the flattened fifth.
Blues Scale Lick 1
Click
to listen
Blues Scale Lick 2
Blues Scale Lick 3
Blues Scale Lick 4
If you'd like some excellent learning material on the blues scale and learning to play the blues, here is a good book by Peter Fischer that I recommend.
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Blues Guitar Rules By Peter Fischer. For Guitar (Electric). Method. AMA Verlag. Blues. Level: Beginning. Book/CD Set. Size 8.5x11.5. 168 pages. Published by AMA Verlag. (610120E) See more info... |
This book gives a good look at the blues and the styles, licks and techniques used by some of the most influential blues guitarists. I personally own this one.
Hope you have enjoyed this blues guitar scale lesson, specifically on the blues scale.
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