The Blues Scale

Lesson 5/54 | Study Time: 5 Min
Course: Beginner Blues Harmonica
The Blues Scale

The Blues Scale

By adding one extra note (the flattened fifth degree) to the minor pentatonic scale, the Blues scale is created. This scale is used by all instrumentalists to create Blues melodies.

Like the minor pentatonic scale, the cross harp Blues scale can only be played on the low end of the harmonica. The G Blues scale is shown here along with a partial lower octave of the scale down as far as the 4th degree (C).

Here is a lick derived from the G Blues scale.

When improvising, it is common to use notes from all of the scales you have learned. The following lick is made from a combination of the G mixolydian scale and the G Blues scale.

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Peter Gelling

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Class Sessions

1- 12 Bar Blues, Basic Techniques, Rhythms and Sounds 2- Playing In Other Keys 3- Improvisation 4- The Twelve Eight Time Signature (<span class="symbolA">+</span>) 5- Third Position 6- Sixteenth Notes 7- Analyzing Cross Harp Sounds 8- Notes On The C Harmonica 9- Scales, 16th Note Rhythms, 3rd Position Playing, and Improvisation 10- Grace Notes 11- Bending Notes 12- Sliding Between Notes 13- The Triplet 14- New Rhythms, Expressive Techniques, Note Bending 15- Hand Vibrato 16- INTRODUCTION 17- Playing Chords 18- The Eighth Note 19- 12 Bar Blues 20- Cross Harp Playing 21- More About 12 Bar Blues 22- Double Tonguing 23- Cleaning The Harmonica 24- The Turnaround 25- Which Harmonica To Use 26- The Six Eight Time Signature (<span class="symbolA">)</span>) 27- The Dorian Scale 28- Reading The Notation System 29- The Major Pentatonic Scale 30- Complete Range Of The Harmonica 31- Chord Numbers 32- The Trill 33- More Notes To Bend 34- The Lead-In 35- The Trail-Off 36- Riffs 37- Swing Rhythms 38- Throat Vibrato 39- Understanding Chords 40- The Tie 41- The Train Whistle 42- How To Hold The Harmonica 43- The Blues Scale In Third Position 44- The Shuffle 45- The Minor Pentatonic Scale 46- Root Notes 47- Tone Development 48- The Blues Scale 49- Melody And Harmony 50- Different Types Of Chords 51- Chords I, IV And V In All Keys 52- Learning The Keys 53- Approach To Practice 54- More Titles by LearnToPlayMusic.com

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