The Blues Scale & Cool Stuff You Can Do With It
April 8th, 2010
Most of us who took Piano lessons as kids are all too familiar with scales, and most of us hated practicing them with a passion. But understanding scales and what they do is critical to the process of improvisation as well as key orientation and just a general understanding of what’s happening in the song we are playing.
The word “scale” comes from the Latin word “la scala” which means “the ladder”. So a scale is a ladder of notes that starts at the bottom — called the root note — and proceeds upwards to the top of the ladder — called the octave note.
There are several kinds of scales, the most common being the major scale, followed by three different types of minor scales. After that there are several specialty scales, including the blues scale used widely in jazz, R&B, blues, and quite a bit in pop music.
The “blues scale” is really a combination of the major diatonic scale (the “regular” scale we all grew up with) plus three additional notes:
The flatted 3rd;
The flatted 5th (or sharp 4th — same thing);
The flatted 7th
As a result the blues scale really contains 11 notes — the 8 of the normal diatonic scale — and the 3 “blue notes”. These are used in various combinations, as we shall see, to create a “bluesy sound”.
The blues started not as a piano style, but as a vocal style, and of course the human voice can sing “in the cracks” between the notes on the keyboard. So when we play blues on the keyboard, we try to imitate the human voice by playing BOTH the 3rd and the flat 3rd — BOTH the 5th and the flat 5th — BOTH the 7th and the flat 7th. We would play in the cracks if we could, but we can’t, so we do the best we can by combining the intervals to imitate the quarter steps that a human voice can sing. (Certain instruments can do that too — for example, the trombone. Since it has a slide, it can hit an infinite number of tones between any two keyboard notes.)
So in the key of C, for example, the blues scale would include:
C, D, Eb, E, F, Gb, G, A, Bb, B, and the octave C.
In the key of F the blues scale would include:
F, G, Ab, A, Bb, Cb, C, D, Eb, E, and the octave F.
In the key of G the blues scale would include:
G, A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, E, F, F#, and the octave G.
So in improvising you can craft a melody out of any or all of these notes. Start by creating a motif out of just 3 or 4 notes, then repeat that motif as you change chords.
For example, if you were in the Key of C, you might create a motif such as C, C, G, Bb C and repeat it in various rhythms as you play the C7 chord in your left hand, then again as you move to the F7 chord, and so on.
With practice and experimentation you can play your own variety of the blues as you master the blues scale.
Duane Shinn
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/the-blues-scale-cool-stuff-you-can-do-with-it-95353.html
April 8th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
how to not not suck on the guitar?
Ive been playing off and on 14 years.
in beganning I nvested in a a double lesson every week 2 1/2 years.
i studyied the berklee book the firdt one. I played in the jazz band in high school and played a little bass senior year. I picked bass right up, it was interesting playing the double bass and the bowing was cool.
I know just about all the bar chords min maj maj7 min 7 dim
7th 9th min 9 maj 9 thrirteenth.
I know the minor scale, major, blues scale. pentatonic.
I am trying to learn the modes and the scales in every position.
Im getting kind bored with the pent5atonic and bluesy stuff.
recently I watched yngwies reh video and pretty much learned all of the licks.
April 9th, 2010 at 1:35 am
I think the easier way not to suck on the guitar is to first take it out of your mouth.
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April 9th, 2010 at 1:37 am
dedicate yourself.
seems like youve accomplished that.
keep playing!
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April 9th, 2010 at 1:39 am
Get lessons =] *
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April 9th, 2010 at 1:41 am
Sounds like you have it down. I fail to see your problem or your question.
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April 9th, 2010 at 1:43 am
Practice like crazy dude and think outside the box every time you touch her… respect her she is your best friend and almost a girlfriend
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April 9th, 2010 at 1:45 am
Guitar Hero : )
(Thnx for the points ^_~)
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April 9th, 2010 at 1:47 am
true…i hav been playing for 9 years..and every once in a while get completely pissed and hit a brick wall and wanna throw it down or lock them up but!!!…the thing you must do is get out there and play with other people…becasue everyone hits the same spot you are in….if you play with other people you pick up cool sutff you can use and going to shows and stuff…people come to my bands shows and i go to others concerts and sometimes i get people over just to jam….main point to get better get with people bro,
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me and most other guitarist
April 9th, 2010 at 1:49 am
Not to beat a dead horse but, practice practice practice. You’re getting a very good theoretical background with the guitar, but the most important thing is to have fun with it. I took lessons for 10 years (8 to 18) and learned from the same book you did as well as the same chords, modes, and scales. Those are good for reading music and knowing how notes and music work together but it isn’t much fun. They are great for warm ups and everytime i pick up a guitar i spend five minutes with them but you need to have fun with the guitar. I don’t know what your goals are or what you’re defining as "sucking" but with as much as you’ve been playing you probably don’t. You need to start learning songs you like because you should be enjoying it. There’s nothing like being able to play your favorite song and hit the solo perfectly. It’s great to know scales and modes, and it helps with writing songs, but for me the most fun with a guitar is playing at parties and gatherings when everyone has been drinking and having a good time. People will sing along and frankly most girls i meet like it. Plus, in those situations all you need to do is know the chords. Sorry it’s so long, but really, to not "suck", practice what you know, add some fun songs, and see what you can make up. The rest is talent. Good luck.
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April 9th, 2010 at 1:51 am
whats the question? If you’re looking for tips, pay attention to detail in your technique, style and other things (such as spellcheck)
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April 9th, 2010 at 1:53 am
Stop doing the stuff you are getting bored with and try something different you can always go back to the other stuff later.
you could play
rock
country
or summin crazy dum dumm dummm thing
anyhow maybe stop for a bit concentrating on learning and just do something you find fun them build it up when your brain dosnt feall so full
x caz
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April 9th, 2010 at 1:55 am
I’m with the guy who said practice practice practice. It sucks, but there it is. You get what you put in, and I mean hours-wise. So stop procrastinating on YA and sit down with that guitar!
hehehe
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April 9th, 2010 at 1:57 am
Write your own songs!
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April 9th, 2010 at 1:59 am
I already e-mailed you this answer.
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