The blues scale is one of the most basic elements of music. In particular, for guitarists who want to add some soul and swing to their music. This is not a set of notes, but the launching pad for many great solos and riffs that are so bluesy. If you’re new to the blues, this is a great place to start, but if you really want to take your musical expression to another level, learning this scale is a good way to do it. From the basics to advanced techniques gives you new creativity.
If you adore the world of music blues scale and learn it from the ground up. Spend a few minutes reading to find out the six easy steps to take you from the novice level to the expert level.
What Is the Blues Scale?
The music blues scale is a six-note musical scale rooted in either the major or minor pentatonic scale, with the addition of specific chromatic “blue” notes. This scale gets its distinctive sound from these blue notes. In the minor blues scale, the added blue note is the sharp 4 or flat 5 (♯4/♭5), in the major blues scale, it is the flat 3 (♭3). While the minor blues scale is more commonly used, the pattern is 1-2-♭3-4-♭5-♭7; the major blues scale is 1-2-♭3-3-5-6.
The blues scale is different from both major and minor scales in that it is not as clearly defined, blending elements of both to form a rich, unique sound. If you’re playing guitar, bass, or piano, the notes remain the same, following a fixed pattern that translates across instruments.
Moreover, this blues scale is far more than the blues music that gave rise to it in the early 20th century. Nearly every modern genre, from rock to jazz, has made this scale a foundation, and it’s essential for musicians in almost every genre.
What Is the Minor Blues Scale?
The minor blues scale is based on the minor pentatonic scale, which itself comes from the natural minor scale. The natural minor scale consists of seven notes, following this pattern: 1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7.
For example, in the G natural minor scale, the notes are: G – A – B♭ – C – D – E♭ – F. Here, G serves as the root, B♭ is the flat third, D is the fifth, and F is the flat seventh.
If you want to make a minor pentatonic scale from the natural minor, you just take out the 2nd and 6th scale degrees. This leaves you with the following pattern: 1 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭7. In the case of the G minor pentatonic scale, the notes are G – B♭ – C – D – F.
This simple transformation opens up a versatile scale. Therefore, the minor blues scale is widely used in blues and other music genres.
The Minor Pentatonic Scale Into the Minor Blues Scale
All you have to do to convert the minor pentatonic scale into a minor blues scale is add one keynote— the flat 5th. The blue note, an extra note that gives the scale its signature bluesy sound, is this extra note. In the G minor pentatonic scale, for instance, the addition of a D♭ (the flat 5th) gives us the G minor blues scale.
Sometimes you might even throw in a natural 7th, which you’ll only use as a passing tone between the flat 7th and the root. For example, in the G minor blues scale, you can add an F# to connect an F (flat 7th) to a G (the root). But use this sparingly to keep the feeling bluesy.
The natural 3rd of the minor pentatonic scale is one thing to avoid when you modify the minor pentatonic scale because it will clash with the minor tonality. In the case of the G minor blues scale, that means not playing a B natural, as it would disrupt the character of the scale.
The minor pentatonic scale, aside from the natural 3rd, can have a lot of other notes creatively added to it. Which ones fit best is something you experiment with.
What Is the Major Blues Scale?
The major blues scale is a variation of the major pentatonic scale, and the latter is a variation of the full seven-note major scale. Each note in the major scale is called a scale degree, and the pattern is simple: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7.
If you want to understand, let’s look at the D major scale: D – E – F# – G – A – B – C#. First, D, second, E, third, F#, and so on.
If we simplify this to the major pentatonic scale, we remove the 4th and 7th degrees. This gives us the pattern: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 – 6. In the case of the D major pentatonic scale, the notes are D – E – F# – A – B.
We begin to look at the major blues scale as having a pentatonic foundation, and from there we can start creating mores melody.
The Major Blues Scale Into the Major Pentatonic Scale
When you want to transform the major pentatonic scale into a major blues scale, you add “blue notes.” The flat 5th is one key blue note to add. In the key of D major, the 5th degree is A, so the flat 5th would be A♭. In a D major blues scale you can play A and A♭, and often transition from A♭ to A for that bluesy feel.
The flat 3rd is another blue note. F# is the 3rd degree in D major, so the flat 3rd is F. There are two Fs in the D major blues scale, with F leading into F#, but not always.
Moreover, you can also add the flat 7th for more color. This would be C in the key of D major. The natural 7th (C#) can be used too. However, only for a short time as a passing tone between C and D, since the natural 7th (C#) doesn’t sound like a blues if you stay on it too long.
Most notes can be used to their advantage but note is best to avoid the flat 6th (B♭ in D major). Because the flat 6th (B♭ in D major) clashes with the major tonality and will ruin the sound.
How to Play the Blues Scale on Guitar in 6 Easy Steps
If you want to master this scale on guitar. Here are 6 easy steps to learn from the basis to advance.
Step 1: Start with Root Position
First, you start learn the root position of the pentatonic and blues scales. Set your metronome between 60 – 70 BPM and play quarter notes with accuracy.
Step 2: Increase Speed
Once you can play the scale cleanly in the root position, gradually increase the metronome speed. You try to play around 150 BPM to help you maintain control and timing.
Step 3: Return to Eighth Notes
After reaching 150 BPM, reset the metronome to 60-70 BPM and practice playing eighth notes. Instead of quarter notes in the same position.
Step 4: Practice Other Positions
After practicing in the first position, try the blues scale in different spots on the neck. You need to keep the accuracy at different speeds.
Step 5: Switch Keys
Switch to different keys to expand your practice. As you switch between keys, continue to keep the metronome going so that you know your timing is consistent.
Step 6: Link Scale Positions
Finally, you start connecting the different scale positions. The scale positions help you smoothly ascend and descend across the fretboard playing from the lowest root note to the highest. Therefore, your fluency with the blues scale is better.
Final Words
If you master the six simple steps of the blues scale, you’ll unlock a world of musical expression that adds depth and soul to your playing. In constructing a clean single-note line, or in building a heavy, dramatic chord tone, the music blues scale is a very important weapon in any guitarist’s arsenal. Adopting this scale will help you improve your skills and add a new dimension of flexibility and passion to your performance.
