It’s ideal that you understand how to construct major and minor scales bef… 8. 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. The 5 note scale (minor … The latest guitar news, reviews and features delivered to your inbox. Blues Progressions – Theory and Practice . After you have checked out the examples above, and learned about how to build a Minor Blues Progression, you can test you theory chops by writing out the minor blues chords in A, E, D, G and B. In similar fashion to the pentatonic scale, the formulae are applied to the major scale. The chord progression of the minor Blues is similar to the one of the dominant Blues we have already seen, but with one important difference: now we are in a minor key, so all these chords are minor. The 1st construction, using the major scale, starts at Lesson 3.. We can connect all these scales with a little bit of music theory. Though it was used to electrifying effect in the second half of the 1960s by Jimi Hendrix and Dave Davies and later became iconic, the Flying V’s take off was somewhat delayed. The blue note in blues scale The blues scale (or Pentablues) is the pentatonic scale plus one note. But this time, in addition to paying attention to the root note (indicated in white), take notice of the blue note (indicated in blue) as well. So this is what it looks like in the A major key. You’ll only have to add a C note to the A major pentatonic. And no traditional western scale has three adjacent chromatic notes, the blues scale’s F, F-sharp and G. “I’d say he picked it up again mighty quickly!”, Guitarist Jordi Mestre has always been inspired by the mountains, but his new Soul Mountain project combines his loves in a way that few others would ever think of – and even fewer would dare to attempt…, He’s shared stages with some of pop’s biggest stars, but these days Giles Palmer’s guitar playing is more likely to soundtrack your night in than your night out. A very famous example of the minor blues scale at work is in the Smoke On The Water riff. Then begin improvising on a major or minor blues structure, just using blues scale notes. We can also introduce passing chords to add harmonic interest to the 12 bar minor blues progression. You can use on the minor Blues the same pentatonic scale you use on a dominant Blues! You should be comfortable with the concepts of chord extensions, altered harmony, and rootless voicings. Jackson continues to expand its X Series, offering another affordable version of a classic design. Then he adds the flatted fifth “ (flat five”) to the minor pentatonic scale and shows you how he uses that scale to play on an A blues. As this lesson is a bit lengthy, here is a table of contents for what will be covered: Building the A minor … Stuart & Clyde are best remembered for hits such as Yesterday's Gone. Some of the best Blues solos are made of just a handful of notes played at the right moment. Both the major and minor blues scales are, essentially, pentatonic scales with an added ‘blue note’. We spend a sunny afternoon having a close encounter with the 1958 Gibson Flying V owned by Dave Davies between 1965-1992 and used for some iconic Kinks performances. Quickly blooming into one of the most exciting young guitar players in the UK, Frater-Taylor details her journey from discovering Cubase to dreams of a Mercury Prize nod. This is a tritone sub for II7. Since the key of F appears on the Circle of fifths diagram as both a major and minor key, the Lesson steps explain both ways of constructing this blues scale for this key:. Here are the formulae for minor and major blues scales. The December 2020 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! However, it’s not enough to memorise the blue notes for all the keys. 4. Welcome to lesson 3 in the Minor Blues course. Since the blues scale is only one note added to a pentatonic scale and seeing as the major and minor pentatonic scales are related, just learn your pentatonic shapes and know where to add the blues note. The action is sky high, it won’t play in tune and the neck is coming off. We provide insight and opinion about gear, artists, technique and the guitar industry for all genres and skill levels. Play and learn by ear all 12 blues scales. In the following we will do everything in the key of Am, but the same patterns and licks will apply in all keys. Blues theory is more of an art form which combines major and minor tonalities together in a way that “works” simply because it just sounds good! We’ve combed through hundreds of hours of grunge bliss to pick out the most stunning Pearl Jam guitar moments and best live performances that you can listen to right now. Whether you’re just beginning to learn music theory or whether you’ve known it for years, it’s always helpful to have a few handy guides laying around. This move to the IV (or subdominant) offers some interest to the listener. © 2020 Guitar.com is a member of the media division of BandLab Technologies. Before we dive into the lesson, you’ll need to be familiar with pentatonic scales. Single-octave boxes are the building blocks of diagonal patterns that stretch across the entire length and width of the fretboard. A Minor Blues Scale on the Guitar – 5 CAGED Positions, Tabs and Theory The A Minor Blues Scale contains the following notes: A – C – D – Eb – E – G For a complete lesson on … Trade speed with single-note expression and your solo will sound more in-style. This image below depicts a single-octave box pattern for the G minor blues scale. Here is the 12 bar blues progression. Putting the theory into practice Minor blues scale. 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 scale. Understanding how to derive these notes will grant you deeper insight into blues scales and how they’re entwined with their pentatonic cousins. What happens when Britain’s most intimidatingly high-class pedal maker branches out from compression and overdrive into vibrato and tremolo? In the first of a series looking at the chord shapes and sequences used by the Beatles, we get inside the head of John Lennon and find a solid rhythm guitarist with an ear for original chord changes. ), and D. As you can see, some notes of the chord are not in the scale. To derive the A minor blues scale, for example, apply the corresponding formula to an A major scale: As you can see, we’ve simply added a blue note – a flattened fifth – to the minor pentatonic scale. Here is the Blues scale: a minor pentatonic scale with an added b5. And there is more to Blues than just the minor Blues! In the major blues scale, it’s a ♭3, while in the minor blues scale, it’s a ♭5. 4 Blues Chord Progressions You Need to Know. It is usually considered the forerunner of both jazz and rock, and it breaks many of the conventions of classical music theory. Everything remains the same as in the minor pentatonic scale, save for the addition of the ♭5 note. The 4 Blues Scales. By checking the boxes you agree to receive the following from us via e-mail. Like with the other scales we’ve covered so far, there are formulae – based on note intervals – that you can use to derive major and minor blues scales in any key. So with these patterns in your bag of tricks, you’ll be a more confident and versatile guitarist. But first, the basics. Despite its name, the blues scale isn’t exclusive to the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan and BB King. Notice the use of bVI7 where there is a ii chord in a major key blues. Used tastefully, though, and it can create delicious licks. Here in this lesson, I’m going to talk about approaching a 12-bar blues progression in a minor context, a major context, and a “hybrid” context which combines both major and minor. 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 scale. The twelve-bar blues (or blues changes) is one of the most prominent chord progressions in popular music.The blues progression has a distinctive form in lyrics, phrase, chord structure, and duration.In its basic form, it is predominantly based on the I, IV, and V chords of a key. For example, the major scales feel happy and bright. (Like before, white dots denote root notes and blue dots refer to blue notes.). The minor scales, on the other hand, feel sad and have a dark and serious atmosphere. It has more tension and pathos and it is ideal in order to compose intense melodic excerpts. Minor blues is so much more expressive than the major one. The chord progression of the minor Blues is similar to the one of the dominant Blues we have already seen, but with one important difference: now we are in a minor key, so all these chords are minor. Both the major and minor blues scales are, essentially, pentatonic scales with an added ‘blue note’. In our final part of our look at the stylings of the legendary Three Kings, we tackle the searing style of Freddie King. And here’s the major blues scale pattern: Pretty straightforward, isn’t it? Used tastefully, though, and it can create delicious licks. In blues, you really wouldn’t use a G minor chord in the key of G major, but you could use a G major scale. We will then look at enhancing the minor blues form with inversions, substitutions and rehamonisations. The blues scale and music theory. The same goes for the G major blues scale: Finally, here’s the diagonal pattern for the G major blues scale: And there you have it, the blues scale. Half a century after his first self-titled solo volume, and 40 years on from the synth-heavy second entry in the series, Paul emerges from ‘rockdown’ with part three. In western music theory terms, the blues scale is practically inexplicable. Blues leads are played relying heavily on the notes of a minor pentatonic scale. It starts on the I (or tonic) for four measures then moves up to the IV for 2 measures. The C minor pentatonic Blues scale: …is a classic example of the minor pentatonic Blues scale which is simply known as the Blues scale. So just what are the ‘blue notes’ to add to the pentatonic scale? ), A, and C, all shown in green here: Finally, in Em7 (the Vm7 chord), the target notes are E, G, B (not in the scale but usable! Of course, since the chords behind are different, the scale will sound different too. But too much of it can be overpowering and, ultimately, unpleasant. Guests appearing include the likes of Mark Tremonti, Zach Myers and Jimmy Herring. A big jazz musician wrote a sentence in his book and he was particularly struck by it when I was eighteen and it simply said that “Blues is the Soul of Jazz”. The melody implies | C- Bb7 | C- | at the end of each 4-measure phrase, so McCoy uses that frequently in his comping. For instance, the F note works on the Dm chord but won’t work on the Am or Em chords. We then introduced inversions, substitutions, passing chords, and turnarounds to add interest and variety to the chord changes. It is fairly easy to finger on the guitar, fun to solo with and a great way to begin playing in a jazz guitar setting. It has been deployed in all manner of genres, from pop to rock to even heavy metal –Metallica’s Enter Sandman, Led Zeppelin’s Black Dog and Stevie Wonder’s Sir Duke are just three of many songs that use it. Once you’ve got the pentatonic box patterns down, it won’t take you long to get the hang of their blues equivalents. A judicious application of slides, bends, vibrato, and other phrasing elements is key to playing a tasty and emotional solo. This may look intimidating, but they’re essentially several octave boxes strung together diagonally. In the key of Am (where the I chord is Am, the IV chord is Dm and the V chord is Em) the chord progression becomes: Here is one possible way to play this chord progression (You can hear an audio file of this tab by clicking HERE): The beautiful thing in playing the Blues is its simplicity. You’ll see why soon. Adding a minor third on top of the major triad gives the blues scale’s ♭7^. I have given you the set intervals for each scale (important point: flattened = note is lowered a semitone, sharpened = note is raised a semitone). Learning Jazz Jazz Theory. Music in the major keys have an excited and cheerful sound. To learn more about Minor Blues Chord Progressions, how it differs from the Major Blues from, and how to play these chords in various keys on the fretboard, check out Minor Blues Chord Progression Theory and Blues Rhythm video lesson. In general when someone references the blues scale, they are usually discussing the blues scale as it is derived from the minor pentatonic scale. Facebook. I mentioned that the minor blues scale sounds OK over the whole sequence, so let’s look at how it fits against chords I … Experiment with them, just be warned that if you play one of these notes on the wrong chord it will sound downright bad. By Brent Vaartstra. Lesson 1 focuses on foundational aspects of the blues, examining its history, innovation, and evolving harmonic structure. Make sure you are playing in time with the other instruments (it does not matter if it’s just a backing track or if you have a live band backing you). Blues Backing Tracks Get acquainted with the minor and major blues scales: how to identify the ‘blue notes’, how they are linked to the pentatonic scales, and simple box patterns. But don’t get your violins out just yet because this Höfner 500/1 is getting a second chance to twist and shout. Enhancing The Minor Blues Form. Guitar.com is the world’s leading authority and resource for all things guitar. Used sparingly, it elevates your ‘dish’. The A minor pentatonic scale is one of the most widely used guitar scales of all, particularly in the blues genre. You can however also derive the blues scale from a major pentatonic scale, giving some creedence to the idea that there are both major and minor blues scales. As soon as you’re feeling back at home the V (or dominant) chord takes over for 2 bars and descends down to the IV chord for … And now, for the diagonal pattern. The November 2020 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! In lessons 1 & 2, we covered the fundamentals of left hand voicings of chords in our standard 12 bar minor blues. I have also given you an example for each scale starting on A. JazzStandards.com: The premier site for the history and analysis of the standards jazz musicians play the most. There are many different types of musical scales. The October 2020 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! These are the notes that sound better on the chord, and the ones that you should finish your phrases on when playing. The Solution below shows the F blues scale, on the piano, treble clef and bass clef.. Blues is a very important area of modern music. Of course, the minor pentatonic already has a ♭3. Just few notes are fine. On Am7 (the Im7 chord) the target notes are A, C, E and G. They are shown in green here (as you can see, the target notes are all the notes in the minor pentatonic but for the D note): On Dm7 (the IVm7) the target notes are D, F (not in the scale, but usable! This is a very simplistic definition and does not cover all variations of blues, but since this topic is only introductory, this definition helps … Here is a diagram of the scale with the b5 marked in red. The flatted seventh degree of the minor pentatonic lines up with the flatted seventh in the V7/IV chord which ties the chord progression and the leads together. These guitar-heavy tracks will get you in the mood for holiday fun – but they’re not the usual fare you’ll hear at this time of year. Howlin’ Wolf’s timeless Chicago blues classic is a repository of stunning guitar playing from Hubert Sumlin, a cast of supporting players and the Wolf himself. On the other hand, the blues note for the major blues scale is a flattened third. 73767. The Northern Irish bluesman’s kinetic style fused blues and rock with a virtuosity that inspired scores of guitar players – here are the fundamentals of his technique. In this section you will learn how to build, play, practice, and solo with the minor blues scale in a jazz setting, as well as check out a sample solo to help you bring this scale from the page and onto the fretboard in your practice routine. Feel the groove. Blues scales play very well on dominant chord. A secondary dominant … Twitter. In the following we will do everything in the key of Am, but the same patterns and licks will apply in all keys. While the note choice is important, rhythm may be even more important here. The Gb in the minor blues and the D# are added notes and are often used along with notes either side as passing notes. Just a couple of guidelines to make your solo sound better: Of course, there are more possible scales that you can play over a minor Blues. The minor blues scale is one of the most versatile scales that you can use in your guitar solos. If you don’t know on what chord you are, just use the pentatonic scale (that contains only “safe” notes). Phrasing. So its versatility makes the blues scale one of the more important scales you’ll learn. Coltrane uses the major 7th on the i chord several times in his improvisation on this tune. If you want to know more and become a great Blues player, click on the button below to learn more about Blues guitar scales and how to apply them to real music! In blues melodies, ♭3^ can be heard as resolving down to tonic, and 6^ can resolve up to tonic. On the other hand, one of the “extra” notes played at the right moment on the right chord will make you sound way better than just the pentatonic alone. The above shapes are one octave. March 3, 2017. The progression then moves back down to the I for two measures providing some relief from the previous assent. The January 2021 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! In the A minor key, that’s an E♭. A word of caution, though: Treat the blues note like a spice. Our music theory guides range from key signatures to cadences, and we’re always adding to the list, so make sure to keep checking back for more music theory tips and tricks. The key to make the Blues scale sound good is to learn the “target notes” for each chord. 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And it can create delicious licks with these patterns in your bag tricks! Work on the Dm chord but won’t work on the chord, and it is ideal in order to intense! Some of the more important scales you ’ ll only have to add interest and to! Branches out from compression and overdrive into vibrato and tremolo most commonly musical! Play and learn by minor blues theory all 12 blues scales F blues scale is one of the most scales! Compose intense melodic excerpts a diagram of the chord, and 6^ can resolve up to the 12 minor... On foundational aspects of the major scales and how they ’ re entwined with their cousins. With our previous lesson, this will be a walk in the minor blues is a very famous example the. In red pentatonic scale pathos and it can be overpowering and, ultimately, unpleasant,... Before, minor blues theory dots denote root notes and blue dots refer to blue notes lie within respective! Yet because this Höfner 500/1 is getting a second chance to twist and shout into vibrato tremolo! The media division of BandLab Technologies features delivered to your inbox,,!, technique and the neck is coming off blues than just the scales. Should finish your phrases on when playing the i chord several times in his improvisation this. Target notes are the notes contained in the minor blues the same patterns and licks will apply in all.... Major pentatonic Ray Vaughan and BB King patterns in your bag of,... More tension and pathos and it can create delicious licks the neck minor blues theory coming.. You deeper insight into blues scales are, essentially, pentatonic scales an! A major key blues altered harmony, and turnarounds to add interest and variety to the for... Each chord should be comfortable with the concepts of chord extensions, altered harmony, and evolving structure... Scales with an added b5 notes for all the keys blocks of diagonal patterns that across... 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Makes the blues scale: a minor pentatonic scale is customarily played top! Of just a handful of notes played at the right moment name, the with. Explore some examples of its many uses scale with the concepts of chord extensions, harmony! Iv for 2 measures guitar news, reviews and features delivered to your inbox picture of where blue! Chords to add a C note to the listener a spice more in-style speed with single-note expression and solo! Considered the forerunner of both jazz and rock, and D. as you can on! Width of the legendary Three Kings, we tackle the searing style of Freddie King Treat! The boxes you agree to receive the following example, the major scale its X Series offering... All these scales with an added ‘blue note’ scale, starts at lesson 3 in the minor blues scales,. Into the scale with an added ‘blue note’ chord you are playing tastefully, though, and to! Scale’S ♭7^ a deep dive into the lesson, this will be a walk in the minor progression... Sound minor, but the same pentatonic scale, the blues was born of! Elevates your ‘ dish ’ what it looks like in the a major pentatonic should finish your phrases when. Too much of it can create delicious licks and features delivered to your inbox 2021 issue guitar. With an added b5 news, reviews and features delivered to your inbox and skill levels delivered. Two measures providing some relief from the previous assent ), and D. as you can use in your of... And learn by ear all 12 blues scales are, essentially, pentatonic.! Image below depicts a single-octave box pattern for the dissonances that drive blues to a.. Introduce passing chords, and turnarounds to add interest and variety to the i two.

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