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Lesson: Blues Scales
Often I am asked:
Why should I master the blues scale?
The blues scale originated out of a need
to bridge the gap between the diatonic
7 note scales and modes of European music
and the sounds brought to the United States
from Africa.
The origins of the blues go back to the early
field crys of the Deep South of the United States.
There was a call and response that was sung
as the workers worked the fields.
A little known fact is that throught these songs
stories were told but also gossip and when the
Under Ground Railroad (a network of safe houses
used to free the escaped slaves) was running
information was transferred singing these early
hymns and field songs.
So the Blues scale tries to bridge the gap.
You can use the blues scale to get the blues
sound by the arrangement of the notes.
The A Blues Scale notes are:
A, C, D, Eflat, E, G
1, min3, 4, flat 5, 5, flat 7
Here is the Blues Scale in A tablature:
E|--------------------------------------5--8-----
B|--------------------------------5--8-----------
G|-----------------------5--7--8-----------------
D|-----------------5--7--------------------------
A|--------5--6--7--------------------------------
E|--5--8-----------------------------------------
The fingering is simple:
Place your 1st finger on the 5th fret
Place your 2nd finger on the 6th fret
Place your 3rd finger on the 7th fret
Place your 4th finger on the 8th fret
Notice the A string has frets 5, 6, 7 in a row.
The flat 5 is a disonant note but when played
as a passing note it gives an edge to the sound.
You can also add the major 3rd or C# in this case.
Eventually you will realize in playing the blues
that all notes are fair game and it is how you approach
each note or series of notes that will make it work or not.
Remember you are trying to emulate the human voice.
I know whenever I hear B.B. King I hear a dialogue in
his playing. Its as if I can hear him having an argument
with his Old Lady. Her screaming, him pleading for
forgiveness or the other way around.
If you learn the blues scale eventually you will be able
to draw from your own emotional experience and create
your own blues style.
Andrew Koblick (www.guitar5day.com) has played and taught guitar for 30 years.
His site provides free guitar lessons
newsletter, discussion forum and guitar links.
Find out more here about
Blues Guitar Lessons
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