A Mel Bay Publications, Inc. Webzine
August 2007 · Bimonthly
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In this issue: Walkin' Through the Jazz 'hood: Part Trois (III) | Chilling with Chris Brown on A Road Less Traveled | Country Bass Guitar Made Easy: Two Songs | The Blues Scale
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The Blues Scaleby John Falstrom Here's the "Blues" Scale and how it works: The Blues Scale 
The I7, IV7, and V7 chords contain all the notes that are in a blues scale. Here's how it works: (Example: Key of C major.)
The b3rd and b7th notes are called "blue" notes. Here's the b3rd and b7th notes and their note relationship to the roots of the I, IV, and V chords. (Example: Key of C major.)
The "blue" notes (b3, b7) can be played "against" any chord used in the standard 12 bar blues form or the 12 bar jazz blues forms. Note: The Minor pentatonic scale (R, b3, 4, 5, b7, (8)) is used as a blues scale type for soloing and for "riffs" i.e., by starting a minor pentatonic scale on the root of a I chord, you get both "blue" notes (b3, b7) and the roots of the I, IV, and V chords (R, 4 and 5). Play each minor pentatonic scale (as blues scale type) finger pattern on the roots of all the major scales(keys); circle of fifths order. The above information about the blues scale should be (eventually) memorized on your bass guitar for all 15 major keys(scales), circle of fifths order. John Falstrom [ top ]
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