When soloing over most minor, dominant of or some major chords the blues scale is a great way to solo without spending years to match every chord and scale. Also the blues scale is very expressive and a a lot of fun to play with. The below examples are presented in C blues. This means the C note is the root, key or starting note.
At first record a standard twelve bar blues in C then live with a friend or on another recorded track play the different Blues Scale Forms.
Listen how each scale form brings out a different feel.
12 Bar Blues in C:
C7 //// //// //// //// F7 //// //// C7 //// //// G7 //// F7 //// C7 /// G7 ////
Repeat progression twenty minutes or more.
C7= C, E, G, Bb
F7= F, A, C, Eb
G7= G, B, D, F
C Blues Scale 1. = C, Eb, F, Gb, G, Bb, C
Number formula = R, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7, 1/8 8= octave same note eight scale tones distance
C Blues Scale 2. = C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb, B, C (sometimes called the bebop dominant blues scale)
R, b3, 4, b5, 5, #5, 6, 1/8
C Blues Scale 3. = C, D, Eb, F, Gb, G, Bb, C
R, 2, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7, 1/8
C Blues Scale 4. = C, D, Eb, F, Gb, G, A, Bb, C (also called the Dorian flat five scale)
R, 2, b3, 4, b5, 5, 6, b7, 1/8
C Blues Scale 5 = C, D#, E, F, Gb, G, Bb, C
R, #9, 3, 4, b5 , 5, b7, 1/8
C Blues Scale 6 = C, D#, E, F, Gb, G, bB, B, C (many heavy metal bands use this scale for main themes)
R, #9, 3, 4, b5, 5, b7, 7, 1/8
C Blues Scale 7 = C, D, D#, E, G, A, C
R, 2,#9, 3, 5, 6, 1/8
C Blues Scale 8 = C, D, D#, E, G, Ab, A, C
R, 2,#9, 3, 5, b13, 6, 1/8
Remember as always transpose to all keys and try any and all fingering combinations.
Now transpose these to each position (register) of your instrument, then to all 15 keys.
All materials copyright 2010. For personal use only.
Vince Lauria Sun and Earth Music
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