Scales are built on interval formulas. You should receive an email from [email protected] within 10 minutes. b3 (flat three) means you take the third note of the major scale only a half step down. A common melodic structure in the Blues scale is the call and response. Remember the formula is 1 – ♭3 – 4 – ♭5 – ♮5 – ♭7. There are a few points of tension and release that you should become comfortable with. Don’t forget that you can always try a seven day free trial if you want to explore Skoove before enrolling! The scale formula for the minor pentatonic can be a useful thing to know if you want to work out the notes in any given minor pentatonic scale. Skoove has a great lesson module all about playing Blues music on the piano! However, in tempered pitched instruments with unbending intonation, the flat fifth scale degree cannot be manipulated in the same ways. It will sound awesome! Check out a three note sequence in the C Blues Scale below: This sequence pattern is a great exercise to practice to gain dexterity and flexibility with the Blues scale. Begin on A and move up a minor 3rd. Building the Minor Scale. Learning chords is a great way to improve your piano skills without any music theory. The C Blues scale contains all the notes in the C Pentatonic Minor plus a flatted And Lisa Witt’s “Chord Hacks” series will show you how to play the most popular chords, so you can play many of your favorite songs on the piano! What do all these numbers mean? Time to Get Blusey. This same method can be done to derive any scale from the major scale. D blues scale. Instead of your first finger on the third note, you continue with your fourth finger and land with your first finger on C♭. By Desi Serna . With a simple formula you will learn to play major, minor and blues scales. Lisa Witt  /  Natural, Melodic, Harmonic. We have already mentioned that the pentatonic scales (major and minor) can be used in the same place where the major natural and minor natural scales … Now that you have played through five different positions of the Blues scale (C, D, F, G, A) you are ready for some exercises! It is used across many styles of music including traditional twelve-bar Blues, Boogie-Woogie, Soul, RnB, Jazz, and Funk to name a few. Lisa Witt  /  What they mean and how to play them. So an A minor blues scale goes like this: Now remember you aren’t limited to this key- use this formula and you can build your blues scale wherever you’d like. Bar 3: chromatic approach of the 3 and b7 of G7. The Minor Pentatonic scale follows the formula 1 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭7. The G Blues scale contains all the notes in the G Pentatonic Minor plus a flatted fifth, the so-called blue note. 2. What research can you do for yourself to better understand this style, context, and history? For fun, try playing the notes of this scale, in any order over the 1-4-5- progression. Riffs & Fills, 107-31265 Wheel Ave. Abbotsford, BC, V2T 6H2 Canada The formula for the minor blues scale is 1½, W, H, H, 1½, W (H means half which is 1 fret, W means whole so 2 frets and 1½ means 3 frets). Notes of The B Blues Scale. This is going to change everything. Blues Scale Formula: 1 b3 4 b5 5 b7; Note: The black dots are the root notes. Here is the blues scale in every key. Bb, Db, Eb, E, F, Ab, Bb. The Blues scale is a six note scale that has emerged out of Blues music. The formula describes the interval distances between each note of the scale. 500 Songs It is derived from the natural minor scale. From A, the Blues scale is spelled A – C – D – E♭ – E♮ – G. Check out the diagram below for the finger pattern, you will find it familiar: Ok! He’s worked as a composer for film, commercial, and theatre projects as well as a session musician and producer for recording work. Is the Circle of 5ths Useless? From D, the scale is spelled D – F – G – A♭ – A♮ – C. Check out the diagram below to see it notated: From F, the scale is spelled F – A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – C♮ – E♭. Bar 7: chromatic approach of the b3 and b7 of Bm7. This added note is often referred to as the 1 – Write down the notes for a C major scale using the whole half step formula. European Union European Regional Development Fund, The Blues scale is a variation on the Minor Pentatonic scale with an added flat fifth scale degree. Scales Minor Pentatonic Scale. 3. The notes in the scale can be described as steps on the guitar fingerboard according to the following formula: whole and a half, whole, half, half, whole and a half, whole from the first note to the same in the next octave. You can also apply this pattern to any other scales like, Now that you have an understanding of the Blues Scale and form, it is important to learn some basic riffs and melodies in the scale. Check out the diagram below to see it notated: Notice the change in finger pattern here. The finger numbers are notated beneath the notes. All of these examples can be used over a Cm chord or anything in the key of Cm. If you incorporate a few minutes of learning and practicing scales into your daily schedule, you’ll soon see the advantages of making time for scales. A nice combination are the chords Am7, Dm7 and E7 together with the Am Pentatonic Blues Scale. I am going to teach you exactly how to play this blues scale (in any key) by giving you the blues scale formula. The blues scale is esentially a minor pentatonic scale with an added flat fifth. The first phrase, G-B♭-C, is repeated twice, followed by the phrase G-B♭-C-B♭-G. You might also see this phrase structure called antecedent-consequent in other realms of music theory. Check out an example of this structure below: This example is a basic, four measure call and response. For the G minor blues progression, you could use the G blues scale. Practice this technique until these concepts feel easy and normal to you! Blog You can improvise blues in minor keys as well. A, C, D, Eb, E, G, A. Now remember you aren’t limited to this key- use this formula and you can build your blues scale wherever you’d like. The minor scales, on the other hand, feel sad and have a dark and serious atmosphere. The minor blues scale has the same notes as the minor pentatonic, as well as a raised 4 th degree – A C D D# E G. Natural minor guitar scale patterns and licks In this section we’ll cover the five 3 note per string patterns that cover this scale over the entire guitar fretboard together with guitar licks that use notes from each pattern. 2 – Play an C major scale, horizontal approach (on a single string) on the guitar. A common melodic structure in the Blues scale is the, Playing the minor blues scale in multiple positions, Some basic riffs and melodies with the blues scale. Images can be saved for free to find out how click here Read Me. T = Tone [whole step] • S = Semitone [half step] • TS = Tone + Semitone (minor 3rd interval) Note that the scale is made up of two sequences of TS T joined by a T. This might help you remember it! The 1st construction, using the major scale, starts at Lesson 3.. In vocal styles, the pitch of the flat fifth scale degree is bent up and down for added inflection, expressive power, and emotional impact. Introduction to the Minor Pentatonic Scale; Understanding Chord Formulas and Scale Formulas . You can use these points to build up tension in your improvisation or as release or resolution points. In this case, the melody begins in the G Blues scale and modulates up to the C Blues scale to match the IV chord. The Blues is a hugely influential style. Music in the major keys have an excited and cheerful sound. Sight Reading Made Simple, Pianote Membership Chord Hacks The Major scale formula = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 C major scale = C D E F G A B The Minor Pentatonic scale formula = 1 b3 4 5 b7 C Minor Pentatonic = C Eb F G Bb So you play the first note of the major scale, then the third note lowered by a half step, the fourth note, the fifth note and the seventh note lowered by a half step. As the name implies, a pentatonic scale is a scale made up of five (penta) notes (tonic). Here we have yet another scale that is derived from the good ‘ol minor pentatonic scale. What is the Circle of 5ths and what's it for? Minor Pentatonic Scale: Tonic – Minor 3rd – Perfect 4th – Perfect 5th – Minor 7th. Chord Hacks The blues scale formula is 1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7. The finger numbers are notated beneath the notes. So how does this all come together? Related: Running and jumping – scales and arpeggios. A minor third is made up of 3 half steps and be identified by its sad sound. It is a common piano scale that is found in many music cultures across the world. The minor pentatonic uses the 1st, minor 3rd, 4th, 5th and minor 7th notes of a major scale or 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th of the natural minor scale. It is somehow ingrained in the human subconscious, especially the first minor third interval. These chords will unlock a whole new world of musical understanding. Since the IV chord only happens for two measures, you need to resolve the melody in measures 7-8 with the G Blues scale again to match the I chord. This is going to change everything. is passionate about songwriting, improvisation, and helping you become a creative musician! I prefer to think of the blues scale as a Minor Pentatonic with an added #4. The formula for forming this scale is W+H, W, W, W+H, W (whole and a half step, whole step, whole step, whole and a half step, whole step). It is known as the minor blues scale, usually just referred to as “the blues scale”. In the key of F, the I, IV, and V chords are F, B♭, and C. In the key of G, the I, IV, and V chords are G, C, and D. And in the key of A, the I, IV, and V chords are A, D, and E. Now that you have an understanding of the Blues Scale and form, it is important to learn some basic riffs and melodies in the scale. Jazz scales often get compared to the ‘blues’ scale. Minor Pentatonic and Blues Scale . The power and influence of the style can be felt in most forms of contemporary popular music and the music carries historical lessons and legacies that are vitally important. Here is a little review if you are unfamiliar with the Minor Pentatonic scale. Join over 200,000 piano players who get free lessons twice a week. There are many, many variations on this form. The more you practice it and let the creativity flow, the more connected you will feel to the music! Further reading: 12-bar blues. The blues scale is so important for anyone who wants to play the blues. Then, a second phrase different from the first two answers the question posed by the first phrase. In the key of D, the I, IV, and V chords are D, G, and A. See also Mixo-blues Scales. 4. While the major scale is the basis of all music theory, the minor scale is the most used in rock music. 5. Here are pictures and notes of the Major Pentatonic Blues scales. You can also apply this pattern to any other scales like the chromatic scale you are practicing! It is a common, This sequence pattern is a great exercise to practice to gain dexterity and flexibility with the Blues scale. Let’s take a look at which notes would make up this blues scale if we were to begin on A. It should be fun, not an intellectual exercise. He has performed extensively in the US, Canada, Argentina, and China, released over 40 albums, and has over a decade experience working with music students of all ages and ability levels. From G, the Blues scale is spelled G – B♭ – C – D♭ – D♮ – F. Check out the diagram below for the finger pattern: The finger pattern for the G Blues scale is the same as it was for C and D. This is a common finger pattern for the Blues scale and you will see it again! Can you insert this melody into the Blues scale and modulate and modify it to fit the other chords? As the name suggests, the twelve bar Blues is twelve measures in length and consists of three chords: I, IV and V. Check out the form below: If you need a refresher on seventh chords, check out this: The twelve bar Blues form begins with the I chord, C7 in this example, for four measures, moves to the IV chord, F7 in this example, for two measures, back to the I chord for two more measures and then moves to the V chord, G7 in this example, for one measure, F7 for one measure, and then finally back to the I chord for two measures. Notes of The C Blues Scale Using the circle of fifths as a tool we can see how this works in a sharp direction. So an A minor blues scale goes like this: A-C-D-Eb-E-G-A. If you randomly ask someone on the street to sing a five note scale, chances are they will sing the Minor Pentatonic scale. The notes in the scale can be described as steps on the guitar fingerboard according to the following formula: whole and a half, whole, half, half, whole and a half, whole from the first note to the same in the next octave. The blues scale is a staple of jazz musicians the world over, but I realised while teaching a student of mine the other day that I have never worked out a thorough system of fingerings for the blues scale in all the keys. Pentatonic Scale Fluency: Available on Kindle and Paperback. And Lisa Witt’s “Chord Hacks” series will show you how to play the most popular chords, so you can play many of your favorite songs on the piano! Scales The minor scale is defined by the formula W-H-W-W-H-W-W, where “W” stands for “whole tone” (equal to 2 frets on the guitar) and “H” for “half tone” (equal to 1 fret on the guitar). Of course there are no right and wrong fingerings, and some will… * FREE VIDEO SERIES * Scales As you can see, we’ve simply added a blue note – a flattened fifth – to the minor pentatonic scale. Can you use the formula and finger pattern you just learned to move the Blues scale around the piano? Here is another example of a call and response: Can you identify which Blues scale this melody is from? First, play through all five patterns in a row, beginning with C, followed by D, F, G, then A and returning to C again one octave higher. For example, the major scales feel happy and bright. Blue dots are the b5 "blues note" A Blues ... Pentatonic Scale Fluency available from Amazon. 3 – Write down and play a C major scale, vertical approach (played across multiple strings) 4 – Build a pentatonic minor scale on a single string. In a C blues scale there is an E, and in a C major scale there is an E. So you call the E a 3 since is is a half step lower than the 3rd note in a C major scale. Practice them today! The latter is the same as the hexatonic scale described above. In terms of semitones, it’s 3 – 2 – 2 – 3 – 2. Lisa Witt  /  Bar 8-10: mostly in the G major blues scale. This new scale is the C natural minor scale (which is typically just referred to as the C minor scale for short). The Minor Pentatonic Scale is the go to scale for many a blues, rock and metal guitar player over the last 60 or so years. Remember that Skoove features over 400 lessons, monthly updates, one on one support from Skoove piano instructors, access to special courses, and an artificial intelligence engine that listens and helps you to improve as you play. Once you feel comfortable with the form in C, modulate the progression to D, F, G, and A. To play the Minor Pentatonic scale from C on the piano, follow the diagram below. Diatonic scales use only half steps and whole steps. Related:Why is technique so important when playing the piano? Jordan Leibel C Minor Pentatonic: How to use the pentatonic scale. There are many different types of musical scales. The same phrase is repeated again. There is a direct link from Rock n Roll, RnB, Gospel, Jazz, Funk, Soul, and many other genres to the Blues. The Minor Pentatonic scale is a five note scale. The Solution below shows the D blues scale, on the piano, treble clef and bass clef.. This will take you to C. From there, play a whole step above C which brings you to D. Then, play a half step above D which is Eb, another half step which brings you to E, add in another minor 3rd (3 half steps) which takes you to G and then top it off with one final whole step – A. 1-5-6-4. These points act as springboards in the form. Different scales may evoke certain emotions or moods. B, D, E, F, F#, A, B. Scales Major Blues Scales . To transform the Minor Pentatonic scale into the Blues Scale, … The first is the transition in and out of the IV chord in measures 5-7 and the second is the turnaround, the V-IV-I progression in measures 9-12. From rock n’ roll to R&B to country, it has inspired timeless music on every continent, but its roots are American. The Blues scale is a variation on the Minor Pentatonic scale with an added flat fifth scale degree. The major blues scale is 1, 2, ♭ 3, 3, 5, 6 and the minor is 1, ♭ 3, 4, ♭ 5, 5, ♭ 7. What they mean and how to play them. This is an extremely common and effective phrasing structure and you will hear this influence across many genres of contemporary music. It has a powerful, soulful, and often melancholic timbre. Notes of The A Blues Scale. For example, if you are playing the blues scale starting on A, you’d play A minor (1) D major (4) E major (5) in the left hand while you play the notes of the blues scale in your right hand. The Minor Pentatonic scale is a five note scale. What do all these numbers mean? The blues scale is arguably the most essential touchstone of popular music. Worship Piano To understand how the formula works, you will need to know what a minor third is built of. 1-5-6-4. Natural, Melodic, Harmonic. The major scales and the minor scalesare the two most commonly used musical scales. by Tommaso Zillio. Have fun with this scale and comment below to let me know what YOUR favorite scale is! It is not rocket science. The easiest way to remember this scale is to think of it as the minor pentatonic and simply learn where the added notes are within the normal five minor pentatonic positions. 4-1-5-6. When playing over the 12 bar blues in the key of A you would play the A Blues Scale. Here are some ideas: Eddie Bond is a multi-instrumentalist performer, composer, and music instructor currently based in Seattle, Washington USA. In the major blues scale, it’s a ♭3, while in the minor blues scale, ... To derive the A minor blues scale, for example, apply the corresponding formula to an A major scale: Advertisement. Try to use your knowledge to build the Blues scale from D, F, G, and A. The Number System Explained! Once you feel comfortable playing through the form, try this exercise with the chords in your left hand and Blues scale in your right hand: Get comfortable playing through the Blues form in quarter notes. You can check it out below. Building and Playing the Minor Scale on Guitar. Lisa Witt  /  Minor Blues Scale In Tab Form All Keys. As you know the scale formula, you can easily figure out which notes a scale contains. C E F G G B C - C blues scale 1 3 4 5 5 7 1 - scale functions. C Natural Minor Scale: C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb . Seriously, try it! The formula for a major pentatonic scale is: ... For example, the A blues scale is the A minor pentatonic scale with the flat 5th added to it. The blues scale is based on the pentatonic scale and follows a specific formula. A particular scale has emerged out of the music called the Blues scale. Formula: 1-b3-4-b5-5-b7-8 (for Blues Scale add #4) Minor Pentatonic: Blues Scale: The blues scale is one of the first scales that many jazz musicians are taught. These chords will unlock a whole new world of musical understanding. Understanding the Blues scale is an important access point to playing the music on the piano! Learn how to play minor scales on the piano to create your own beautiful sounds. Learn how to play minor scales on the piano to create your own beautiful sounds. You can apply this pattern to the four other positions you have learned. How to Play Minor Scales on the Piano Learning chords is a great way to improve your piano skills without any music theory. Now check out this same four measure phrase placed in the context of the Blues form: When the progression moves to the IV chord, modulate the melody up to match the chord. The Blues scale and form is at the root of all of this. Practice this different finger pattern until you feel comfortable. To transform the Minor Pentatonic scale into the Blues Scale, all you need to do is add in the flat fifth scale degree. Notes of The Bb Blues Scale. Practice them today! If you’re like me and many other professional guitarists… it’s just easier to mentally convert everything to minor and blanket the neck in what is perceived as the minor pentatonic scale shapes. Blues Guitar Scales. To play the Minor Pentatonic scale from C on the piano, follow the diagram below. Also, you can form this scale with the formula, Minor 3rd – Whole Step – 1/2 Step – 1/2 Step – Minor 3rd – Whole Step. Here is the scale formula applied to the basic blues scale form. The Blues has been played for at least 100 years and will hopefully be learned and played for hundreds more. Now that you have five positions of the Blues scale under your fingers, it is time to learn a basic twelve bar Blues form. Remember, practicing with proper technique and fingering means greater technique, control, and creativity down the road! Here is a little review if you are unfamiliar with the Minor Pentatonic scale. Scales Blues music originated in the American Deep South during the 1870s. The harmonic minor scale. Getting Started To guide you, here are the minor scales in every key: C = C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C D = D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C - D E = E - F# - G - A - B - C - D - E F = F - G - Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F G = G - A - Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G A = A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A B = B - C# - D - E - F# - G - A - B C# = C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A - B - C# Eb = Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - Cb - Db - Eb F# = F# - G# - A - B - C# - D - …