In this issue:  Breaking into Nashville: Moving to a new town | Interview: Bob Babbitt | Interview: Ernie Durawa | The Blues Scale With Added B5th Note | 

The Blues Scale With Added B5th Note

by John Falstrom

Here is a close look into the blues scale with added b5th note:

• Adding the b5th note to the blues scales.

• The b5th note is also called a "blue" note.

Here's the b3rd,b5th, and b7th notes and their note relationships to the roots of the I, IV, and V chords:

(Example: Key of C major.)

• The "blue" notes (b3,b5,b7) can be played "against" any chord used in the standard 12 bar blues form or the 12 bar jazz blues forms.

Important: The b9th (b2nd) note is also used as a "blue" note on occasion.

Note: The minor pentatonic scale with the added b5th note (R,b3,4,b5,5,b7,(8) ) is used as a blues scale type for soloing and for "riffs" i.e., by starting a minor pentatonic w/b5 scale on the root of a I chord, you get all three "blues" notes(b3,b5,b7) and the roots of the I, IV, and V chords (R, 4, and 5).

The Blues Scale With Added B5th Note
The Minor Pentatonic With B5th Scale
Finger Patterns

• Play each minor pentatonic w/b5 scale (as blues scale type) finger pattern on the roots of all the major scales (keys); circle of fifths order.
• Each finger pattern works for every root of a minor pentatonic w/b5 scale.
• Each finger pattern includes the octave of the root.
• Play each finger pattern ascending/descending.
• Play and memorize one finger pattern at a time.

(Finger patterns number five and six are double octave minor pentatonic w/b5 scales.)

The Blues Scale With Added B5th Note
The Minor Pentatonic With B5th Scale
Three Note Pattern

Play this three note pattern for each minor pentatonic w/b5 scale finger pattern:

The Finger Patterns

Here are the musical terms and symbols pertaining to the understanding ff how the finger patterns work:

Fretboard Hand

The four fingers that play the notes on the bass guitar fretboard are assigned these numbers: Memorize them!

Finger	Number
Index finger	1
Middle finger	2
Ring finger	3
Little finger	4

Position

Whatever fret your 1st finger is over, that's the position you're in. Fingers 2,3, and 4 are in charge of the next three frets respectively.

Roman numerals are used to indicate the positions:

Position Examples
1st finger over first fret	I position
1st finger over third fret	III position
1st finger over seventh fret	VII position

The Slash Symbol

The slash symbol (/) means to change to the next higher pitched string while staying in position.

Finger patterns containing one slash will be played using two strings. Two slashes will use three strings, and three slashes will use four strings.

The double octave finger patterns (three slashes) are played using all four strings of a four string bass. Therefore, the roots of all the double octave scales must be played starting on the E string. (If you play a five string bass, the roots can be played starting on the B or E string (s). If you play a six string bass, the roots can be played starting on the B, E, or A string(s). The finger patterns will remain the same.)

The Slide Symbol(S)

½ Means to move up one half step (on the same string you are playing On) with the assigned finger.

W Means to move up one whole step (on the same string you are playing On) with the assigned finger.

1½ Means to move up one whole and one half step (on the same string you are playing on) with the assigned finger.

Summary

Study, play, memorize, and analyze this chart until you can understand how important it is in where you play the three blue notes(b3rd, b5th, and b7th) in a song using the blues scale.

---

[ top ]