The Blues Scale
In this course we’re going to be studying one of the most commonly-used scales – the blues scale. As you’ll learn from the course, the blues scale is simply the minor pentatonic scale, with an added ‘blue’ note. With that in mind, it would be a good idea to have worked through the Minor Pentatonic Scale video course before tackling this one.
The blues scale is important for all musicians as it has multiple applications: it works over many different chord types and fits perfectly in most styles of music. With that in mind, this course covers ways in which to learn the scale all over the fretboard (without relying on shapes or patterns) and then puts it to use in a series of ‘real world’ bass grooves. The first few exercises are based around an A blues scale (a logical key to start learning the scale with), after which there are lines written in other keys. By the end of this course you should be very familiar with the sound of the blues scale and you’ll find that it makes a valuable addition to your scale vocabulary.
Don’t forget to hit the Download Resources button above to get hold of the PDF worksheets and the audio files for this course (available to subscribers only).
This course contains the following videos, each of which can be selected from the video player above:
1 – Introduction to the Blues Scale
In this video we’ll be talking about the blues scale and discussing how and where it is commonly used.
2 – Playing the Blues Scale
In this lesson we’ll cover the theory behind the blues scale, and I’ll be showing you how to play it all over the fingerboard using the ‘content over patterns’ concept. In learning the scale this way, you won’t be limited to only using it in certain parts of the fingerboard.
3 – Blues Scale Exercise #1
This exercise is a blues-rock riff that puts the A blues scale to use in a line that’s played in unison with the guitar. You’ll hear that the ‘bluesy’ element of the line is due to the inclusion of the flattened fifth (Eb), which is known as the ‘blue note’ in the scale.
4 – Blues Scale Exercise #2
This line also uses the A blues scale. As you’ll hear, the blues scale is perfect for rock riffs and fills.
5 – Blues Scale Exercise #3
This is a slap bass groove that uses the A blues scale. This line is played with a swing sixteenth note feel, which makes it a little harder to play in terms of accurate timing.
6 – Blues Scale Exercise #4
This is a funk groove based around an A dominant seventh chord. Although the dominant seventh chord contains a major third, you find that minor pentatonic and blues scales work well over it, as you’ll hear in this exercise.
7 – Blues Scale Exercise #5
This exercise is another rock bassline that uses the A blues scale. This line sounds great if you can play it with a pick.
8 – Blues Scale Exercise #6
This exercise uses the G blues scale: G – Bb – C – Db – D – F. The blues scale is used as the basis for an ascending riff that is played by the whole band.
9 – Blues Scale Exercise #7
This exercise makes use of the D blues scale: D – F – G – Ab – A – C. This is a relatively simple rock bassline.
10 – Blues Scale Exercise #8
This exercise uses the E blues scale: E – G – A – Bb – B – D. This is another rock bassline that demonstrates how useful the blues scale is for rock riffs.
11 – Blues Scale Exercise #9
This line uses the G blues scale: G – Bb – C – Db – D – F. This is a funk line that features the scale used over a dominant seventh chord.
12 – Blues Scale Exercise #10
This is a slap bass line that uses the E blues scale: E – G – A – Bb – B – D. This line is played in a 12/8 time signature which means that it has a triplet feel.
13 – Blues Scale Exercise #11
This is an up-tempo rock bassline that uses the E blues scale: E – G – A – Bb – B – D.
14 – Blues Scale Exercise #12
This is a fingerstyle funk groove that uses the E blues scale: E – G – A – Bb – B – D.
15 – Blues Scale Exercise #13
This is a funk-rock groove that uses the E blues scale: E – G – A – Bb – B – D.
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